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ESTHER  AND  BERENICE 

Two  Plays 


BY 

JOHN  MASEFIELD 


R0SA8 

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The    Locked    Chest  ;    and    the    Sweeps    of 

Ninety-eight 
The    Everlasting    Mercy    and    the    Widow 

IN  the  Bye  Street 


ESTHER  AND  BERENICE 

TWO  PLAYS 


BY 

JOHN  MASEFIELD 


^etD  |9orfe 
THE  MACMILLAN  COMPANY 

1922 

All  rights  reserved 


PRINTED  IN  THB  UNITED  STATES  OP  AMERICA 


COPTRIGHT,    1922, 

By  JOHN  MASEFIELD. 


Set  up  and  electrotyped.     Published  January,  1922. 


Press  of 

J.  J.  Little  &  Ives  Company 

New  York,  U.  S.  A. 


This  adaptation  of  "Esther"  was  produced  by  Miss 
Penelope  Wheeler  at  Wootton,  Berks,  on  the  evening 
of  the  5th  May,  1921,  with  the  following  cast: — 

V  Esther Miss  Penelope  Wheeler 

V\  Rachel Miss  Geraldine  Berkeley 

MoRDECAi Mr.  Richard  Elwes 

Haman Mr.  Kenneth  Rae 

Hydaspes Mr.  W.  H.  Nurse 

Ahasuerus Mr.  Eric  Dance 

<•  Asaph Mr.  James  Pearce 

Zeresh Mrs.  Vidler 

p  [Miss  Katharine  Richards 

^^^^ LMiss  Judith  Masefield 

Guard Mr.  P.  Venables 

The  Play  was  performed  without  scenery  upon  a 
stage  hung  with  curtains.  There  were  exits  and  entrances 
R.  and  L.  at  Back,  and  an  extra  exit  and  approach  by 
steps  to  the  stage  from  Front  Centre. 


Exit 


]ExiT 


Avant-scene. 


572749 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2007  with  funding  from 

IVIicrosoft  Corporation 


http://www.archive.org/details/estherberenicetwOOmaseiala 


PREFACE 

I  have  been  asked  to  write  a  few  words  to 
explain  why  these  adaptations  of  Racine  were 
made. 

They  were  made  for  the  use  of  a  little 
company  of  amateur  players  who  wished  to 
try  their  art  in  verse  plays,  yet  found  that 
of  the  many  fine  poetical  plays  in  the  En- 
glish language,  not  many  suited  their  needs. 
The  Elizabethan  poetical  play  needs  a  large 
cast  and  a  fairly  large  stage.  The  Restora- 
tion poetical  play  is  of  an  old  fashion.  The 
modern  poetical  play  is  usually  not  enough 
of  the  stage  nor  of  the  people  to  hold  the 
audience  to  which  these  players  perform. 

The  stage  upon  which  this  company  of 
players  performs  measures  eleven  feet  by 
thirteen  feet,  so  that  no  big  production  is 


viii  PREFACE 

possible.  The  men  players  are  often  kept 
from  performing  by  their  work  or  study,  so 
that  no  play  with  a  large  man  cast  can  be 
undertaken.  We  had  produced  some  half 
dozen  plays  of  different  kinds,  and  had 
learned  that  the  poetical  plays  were  by  much 
the  most  popular.  We  wanted  to  do  others. 
We  wanted,  in  short,  plays  in  verse  that 
were  of  the  theatre,  that  could  be  done  with 
few  properties  and  no  scenery,  with  small 
casts  of  from  six  to  nine  persons.  Knowing 
how  keenly  sensitive  an  English  audience  is 
to  verse,  we  wanted  plays  with  fine  situations 
and  stirring  declamation.  The  French  clas- 
sical tragedies  seemed  to  offer  a  foundation 
of  what  we  needed,  so  these  versions  were 
made. 

The  play  of  Esther  is  an  adaptation,  not  a 
translation,  because  in  Esther  our  audience 
asked  for  something  more  than  the  French 
formality  allowed.    We  could  make  nothing 


PREFACE  ix 

of  Racine's  choruses  in  this  play  in  transla- 
tion ;  after  some  attempts  we  gave  them  up, 
and  substituted  others.  When  we  came  to 
rehearse  the  play,  we  found  it  too  short;  we 
therefore  lengthened  it.  Berenice  is  a  trans- 
lation. 

John  Masefield. 


CHARACTERS 


ESTHBB 

Rachel 

mordecai 

Haman 

Hydaspes 

Ahasxjekus 

Asaph 

Zeresh 

Chorus  of  Jewish  Children 

Guards,  Etc. 


Parts  of  Acts  1,  3,  and  4  of  this  play  are  translated 
from  the  Tragedy  of  Esther,  by  Racine. 


PROPERTIES 


ACT  I. 


Settle  with  cushions,  to  Left. 
Seats  for  Chorus,  Left,  with  rug. 
Orders  for  Mordecai,  Right. 

ACT  IL 

Couch  R.  for  Ahasuerus,  with  cushions  and  cover. 

Sword  at  foot  of  bed. 

Stool  at  foot  of  bed. 

Cup  for  drink,  Left,  off. 

Bell  for  clink,  Right,  off. 

Drum,  Left,  off,  with  the  Guards,  for  their  singing. 

Battens  to  keep  couch  steady. 

ACT  III. 

Settle,  bedecked,  to  the  Right,  with  new  covers  and 

cushions,  as  the  throne. 
Sceptre,  Ahasuerus,  Right. 
Roll  or  scroll,  Ahasuerus,  Right. 
Spear  for  Guard,  Right. 

ACT  IV. 

Throne,  bedecked  as  in  Act  III,  but  Centre. 

Fruit   and    two   brass    dishes    for    feast    (oranges    and 

lemons  only). 
Bronze  bowls  and  cups  for  feast. 
Stool  for  feast. 

Orders,  Right,  off,  for  Ahasuerus,  when  he  goes  out. 
Second  stool  or  footstool  to  Right  of  throne. 
Signet  for  Asaph  to  give  to  the  King,  Right. 


ESTHER  AND  BERENICE 

Two  Plays 


ESTHER 

ACT  I. 

Scene: — Esther's  apartments. 
(Rachel  enters  hack,  comes  down  L.  of 
Esther.) 

Esther. 
0  Rachel,  is  it  you?    Thrice  happy  day, 
0  blessed  heaven,  which  sends  you  to  my 

prayers. 
You  did  not  know  that  I  was  made  the 

Queen? 
More   than   six  months  my   friends   have 

sought  for  you. 
Where  have  you  been? 

{They  sit  centre.) 


2  ESTHER 

Rachel. 
I  heard  that  you  were  dead, 
And  hearing  this,  I  lived  most  miserably. 
Until  a  prophet  told  me,  "Do  not  weep, 
But  rise,  leave  this,  and  take  the  Shushan 

road; 
There  you  will  see  your  Esther  crowned  the 

Queen. 
And  on   your  way   comfort   the  wretched 

tribes; 
Tell  them  the  day  approaches  when  our  God 
Will  send  His  comfort  with  a  powerful  arm." 
I  heard  his  words,  and  hurried  to  the  palace. 
Marvellous  it  is  that  proud  Ahasuerus 
Has  crowned  his  captive,  made  a  Jewess 

Queen. 
0    by    what   hidden    ways,    what    strange 

events, 
Has  Heaven  led  you   to  this  great  posi- 
tion? 


ESTHER  3 

Esther. 
Have  they  not  told  you  of  the  great  disgrace 
Of   the   proud   Vashti,    Queen   before   my 

coming? 
The  King  divorced  her,  but  when  she  was 

gone 
His  mind  was  troubled,  and  he  sought  for 

one 
To  bring  him  comfort. 
They  sought  throughout  the  world  in  every 

land 
To  find  a  Queen. 

I,  as  an  orphan,  lived  alone  and  hidden 
Under  the  care  of  watchful  Mordecai: 
He  is  my  uncle,  and  he  tended  me. 
Sad  for  the  trouble  of  the  captive  Jews, 
He  told  me  all  his  secret  plans,  and  I 
Obeyed  his  wish,  and  sought  to  be  the  Queen. 
Who  could  express  the  plots  and  counter- 
plots 


4  ESTHER 

Of  all  these  courtiers,  striving  for  the  honour, 
Striving  to  catch  Ahasuerus'  eyes. 
At  last  Ahasuerus'  order  came  to  me, 
And  I  appeared  before  the  mighty  King. 
Long   time   he   watched   me   in    a   sombre 

silence, 
Then  gently  spoke:     "You  shall  be  Queen," 

he  said, 
And  crowtied  me  with  his  royal  diadem. 
Then  followed  days  of  joys  and  festivals; 
Esther  was  Queen,  and  seated  in  the  purple  ; 
Half    of    the    world    was    subject    to    her 

sceptre. 
But  grass  is  growing  in  Jerusalem, 
The    stones    are    scattered    from    the   holy 

Temple, 
The  God  of  Israel's  worship  is  no  more. 

Rachel. 
Have  you  not  told  the  King  your  troubles, 

Esther? 


ESTHER  6 

Esther. 
The  King?    Even  now  he  knows  not  that  I 

am  a  Jewess, 
For  Mordecai  keeps  me  secret  still. 

Rachel. 
Can  Mordecai  come  about  the  Court? 

Esther. 
His  love  for  me  finds  out  a  thousand  ways 
To  send  advice,  and  me  to  ask  for  it. 
A  Father  has  less  care  for  his  own  son. 
Already  by  good  Mordecai's  cunning 
I  have  laid  bare  to  the  King  the  treacherous 

plots 
Made  by  two  slaves  against  him. 
Meanwhile  my  love  for  our  beloved  race 
Has  filled  this  palace  with  young  Jewesses. 
Here  I  can  care  for  them  and  teach  their 

souls. 
Among  them,  putting  by  my  queenly  pride, 


6  ESTHER 

I  bow  myself  before  the  feet  of  God; 
I  hide  from  all  the  Persians  who  they  are. 
(Calls.)    Come!    Come,  my  daughters, 
Companions  here  of  my  captivity. 
(Enter  Chorus,  Left:  bow  slightly,  and  come 

down  to  front  Left.     They  stand  and 

speak  standing.) 

Rachel. 
Innocent  children,  may  God  give  you  peace. 

Esther. 
My  daughters,  sing  us  one  of  those  sweet 

psalms 
That  tell  of  Zion. 

1st  Chorus. 
We  cannot  sing  of  Zion  without  tears. 

2nd  Chorus. 
How  can  we  sing  the  happy  songs  of  home 
In  this  strange  land? 


ESTHER  7 

1st  Chorus. 

All  day  and  every  day 
The  memory  of  old  pleasure  comes  to  us, 
Old  happy  days  at  home  with  father  and 

mother, 
Our  games  and  birthday  feasts,  and  times  at 

night 
When  lamps  were  lit. 

Rachel. 
It  is  too  true;   their  hearts  are  breaking, 

Esther. 
We  exiled  captives  cannot  sing  of  home. 

Esther, 
Sing  of  the  war,  and  our  captivity. 

1st  Chorus. 
The  fulness  of  our  hearts  is  all  we  have, 
We  can  sing  that. 

1st  Chorus. 
A  myriad  Persians  came  against  our  town. 
Many  in  number  as  the  blades  of  grass: 


8  ESTHER 

They  broke  the  ramparts  of  the  city  down, 
They  robbed  our  Temple  of  its  wealth  of 
brass. 

They  made  the  captains  of  our  soldiers  yield, 
They  took  our  Kings  and  Princes  captive 
there, 
They  blinded  them,  and  killed  them  in  the 
field. 
They  made  us  slaves:  they  gave  us  loads 
to  bear. 

Then,    on    a    day,    the    Persian    trumpets 
sounded ; 
They  brought  us  from  the  city.    Even  as  a 
beast 
Bearing  a  too  great  burden,  we  were  hounded 
Far  from  our  home  away  into  the  East. 

And,  looking  back,  even  as  we  topped  a  rise. 
We  saw,  far,  far  behind,  our  ruined  city 


ESTHER  9 

Burning,  a  spoil  to  warriors  without  pity, 
And  we,  the  homeless  slaves,  the  warriors' 
prize. 

2nd  Chorus. 

Now  many  a  day  has  passed,  and  here  as 
slaves 
We  toil,  with  breaking  hearts,  by  tears 
made  blind; 
Thinking  of  our  old  homes,   our  fathers' 
graves. 
Lost,  like  our  chance  of  life,  our  peace  of 
mind. 

Now  no  foot  falls  in  the  houses  of  our  fathers, 
But  the  grass  grows  green  and  the  fountain 
pipes  are  filled 
With  the  ashes,  and  the  ruin,  and  the  burnt- 
out  rafters, 
And  where  once  our  Kings  caroused  the 
sparrows  build. 


10  ESTHER 

{Enter  Mordecai,  Right.    He  comes  down 
below  Rachel.  He  has  his  face  hidden.) 

Esther. 
What  profane  man  dares  come  into   this 

place? 
0  Mordecai!    Uncle!    Is  it  you? 
An  angel  of  the  Lord  has  helped  you  here. 
But  why  so  sad? 
Why  are  you  wearing  sackcloth 
All  strewn  with  ashes? 

Mordecai. 
0  wretched  Queen ! 

(He  turns  away  from  Queen.) 
0  ghastly  fortune  of  the  innocent  Jews! 
Read,  read  the  awful  order  that  condemns  us. 
We  are  all  lost,  all  ruined. 
(Rachel  down  to  Chorus  behind  Esther.) 

Esther. 
O  Heaven!  my  blood  is  frozen  in  my  veins! 


ESTHER  11 

MORDECAI. 

They  are  about  to  massacre  the  Jews. 
All  of  the  Jewish  nation  is  condemned. 
Haman,  the  great  King's  favourite,  plotted 

this; 
The  King,  believing  him,  has  signed  the  edict. 
He  gives  his  orders  and  in  all  his  lands 
To-morrow  is  appointed  for  our  murder. 

(Alarm  in  Chorus.) 
None  of  us  will  be  spared,  nor  sex,  nor  age, 
All  of  us  will  be  killed  and  cast  aside. 
At  the  fifth  hour  to-morrow  afternoon 
The  murder  will  begin. 

Esther. 
0  Heaven  who  sees  such  plots, 
Hast  thou  forgotten  us? 

Rachel. 
Heaven,  who  can  guard  us  if  thou  dost  not 
^ard? 


12  ESTHER 

MORDECAI. 

Now,  Esther,  leave  all  weeping  to  these  chil- 
dren; 
You  are  our  only  hope,  and  you  must  save  us. 
The  time  is  short  and  all  of  us  are  doomed ; 
You  must  go  forth  and  dare  to  tell  the  King 
That  you  yourself  are  Jewish. 

Esther. 

Alas!  you  do  not  know  what  awful  laws 
Keep  timid  mortals  from  the  awful  King. 
Death  is  the  doom  of  any  daring  soul 
Who  comes  before  the  King,  not  being  bid- 
den. 
Unless  the  King  think  fit  to  stretch  his 

sceptre 
For  him  to  kiss. 

All  living  souls  are  subject  to  this  law, 
Even  I,  his  Queen,  am  subject  to  this  law. 
If  I  his  Queen  desire  to  speak  with  him, 


ESTHER  13 

He  must  first  call  for  me, 
Or  send  for  me. 

MORDECAI. 

What!  when  you  see  your  country  at  death's 

door, 
Is  your  own  life  so  blessed  to  you,  Esther? 
Is  not  your  life  due  to  the  Jewish  race. 
Or  due  to  God  Who  gave  it? 
Who  knows,  if  to  the  throne  you  bend  your 

steps 
To  save  the  Jews,  God  may  protect  you  there. 
0  happy  you,  to  risk  your  life  for  God ! 
The  God  Who  vanquishes  the  kings  of  earth, 
At  Whose  great  Voice  the  sea  flies,  the  sky 

trembles. 
If  He  permitted  Haman's  wicked  plot, 
Doubtless  it  was  to  prove  your  holy  zeal. 
0  He  will  vanquish  Haman,  break  our  chains, 
By  the  most  weak  hand  in  His  universe 


14  ESTHER 

And  you,  if  you  do  not  accept  this  deed, 

Will  die  with  all  your  race. 

(Chorus  hands  out  in  entreaty  to  Esther.) 

Esther. 
If  I  accept  the  deed, 

And  if  I  see  the  King  and  live  to  tell  him 
That  I  am  Jewish,  he  will  surely  kill  me 
For  having  kept  it  secret  until  now. 

MORDECAI. 

You  could  not  have  been  Queen  had  it  been 

known. 
I  bade  you  keep  the  secret  for  that  reason; 
Rightly,  I  judged  it  then. 

Esther. 
But  it  proves  wrongly. 
It  ruins  our  last  hope. 

MORDECAI. 

It  is  a  hope, 

Our  only  hope,  and  you  must  do  it,  Esther. 


ESTHER  15 

Esther. 
0  God,  Thou  seest  the  spears  that  ring  us  in! 

Rachel. 
Esther,  dear  friend,  for  these  sweet  children's 

sakes 
Dare  do  this  deed.    Think,  Esther;  but  for 

you 
Their  tender  limbs  will  pasture  the  wild 

beasts. 
And  these  most  innocent  lips  that  sing  God's 

praise 
Be  silenced,  and  our  Zion  desolate  ever. 
0  I  beseech  you,  hasten  to  the  King! 

The  Chorus. 
Save  us,  great  Queen!    Beseech  the  King  to 
save  us! 

Esther. 
Go !  let  the  Jews  in  Shushan  pray  for  me. 
And  watch  all  night,  and  keep  a  solemn  fast. 


16  ESTHER 

Now  it  is  night;  to-morrow  at  the  dawn, 
Contented  well  to  die,  if  die  I  must, 
I'll  go,  and  offer  me  in  sacrifice. 

(They  veil.    Mordecai  out  here.) 
O   sovereign   Lord,    kept   here   among   the 

pagans, 
Thou  knowest  how  I  loathe  their  heathen 

rites; 
Thou  knowest  that  this  crown,  which  I  must 

wear 
In  solemn  feasts,  I  spurn  beneath  my  feet 
When  I'm  alone,  preferring  ashes  to  it. 

0  Lord,  I  waited  for  Thy  word  to  come. 
Now  has  the  moment  come,  and  I  obey; 

1  go  to  dare  to  stand  before  the  King. 

It  is  for  Thee  I  go ;  Lord,  come  with  me, 
To  this  fierce  lion  who  knows  not  Thy  law; 
Grant  that  he  be  not  angry,  let  me  charm 

him; 
Lord,  turn  his  rage  against  our  enemies. 


ESTHER  17 

{During  this  speech  Esther  comes  Right 
down  to  foot  of  stage.) 

1st  Chorus. 
Deliver  us  from  this  threatened  death,  0 

heaven; 
Out  of  this  body  of  death  in  which  we  dwell, 
O  Spirit,  set  us  free. 

2nd  Chorus. 
For  here,  as  slaves, 

We  aannot  sing  thy  praise,  we  cannot  keep 
Thy  laws,  but  live  in  dread  and  in  despair. 

Rachel. 
We  had  the  past.    We  lived  once,  long  ago. 
We  do  not  Hve  now,  save  in  memory. 
Now  even  that  little  penny-weight  of  life 
Is  grudged  us,  is  not  spared,  is  taken  from  us. 

All. 

0  lamentation,  misery,  woe,  woe! 

(Rachel  a  little  at  back  of  Chorus.) 


18  ESTHER 

Chorus. 
2nd  Chorus. 

{Spoken  sitting.) 
In  the  troubled  dreams  a  slave  has  ere  I 
waken, 
I  can  see  my  city  shining  as  of  old, 
Roof  and  column  of  the  Temple  wreathed 
in  gold; 
And  the  ramparts  proud  as  erst,  before  the 
town  was  taken, 
And  the  well-loved  living  shapes  that  now 
are  cold. 
Then  I  wake,  a  slave,  and  houseless  and  for- 
saken. 
Chained,  an  outcast,  and  a  chattel,  bought 
and  sold. 

1st  Chorus. 

(Sitting.) 

Now,  for  us,  no  future,  but  the  corn-mill  and 

the  stranger 


ESTHER  19 

In  the  foeman's  house  forever. 
And  the  cold  eyes  of  a  master  and  the  cruel 
eyes  of  danger, 
And  the  memory  of  joys  returning  never. 

We  who  once  were  dainty  ones  and  splendid, 
Now  are  slaves  who  grind  the  mill  be- 
neath a  master's  blow; 
Would  that  when  our  fathers  ended,  we  had 
ended. 
That  we  lay  in  Zion's  soil,  at  peace  with 
those. 

All. 
0  lamentation,  misery,  woe,  woe! 

1st  and  2nd  Chorus. 

{Together,  standing.') 
Here,  from  our  prison  gate,  we  see  again 
The  never-ending  sand,  the  Persian  plain. 
The  long,  long  road,  the  stones  that  we  should 
tread 


20  ESTHER 

Were  we  but  free,  to  our  beloved  dead. 

And  in  the  Spring  the  birds  fly  to  the  west 
Over  those  deserts  that  the  mountains 
hem, 

They  fly  to  our  dear  land;  they  fly  to  nest; 
We  cannot  go  with  them. 

1st  Chorus. 

{Standing.) 

And  in  Springtime  from  the  windows  of  the 

tower 

I  can  see  the  wild  horses  in  the  plain, 

Treading  stately  but  so  lightly  that  they 

never  break  the  flower. 

And  they  fade  at  speed  to  westward  and 

they  never  come  again. 

2nd  Chorus. 

{Standing.) 

And  in  Springtime  at  the  quays  the  men  of 

Tyre 


ESTHER  21 

Set  their  ships  towards  the  west  and  hoist 
their  sail, 
And  our  hearts  cry  "Take  us  with  you  to  the 

land  of  our  desire!" 
And  they  hear  our  cry  but  will  not  take  the 
crier: 
The  crying  of  a  slave  can  be  of  no  avail. 

Together. 

{Move  at  "Birds.") 
Birds,  horses,  sailors,  all  are  free  to  go 

To  seek  their  homes  beyond  the  wilderness; 
But  we,  the  homeless,  only  know 

(1st  Chorus  comes  across  Right  below 
Esther.  2nd  Chorus  comes  L.,  kneels 
at  foot  of  Esther  Centre.) 

Weariful  days  of  wearing-out  distress. 
0  lamentation,  misery,  woe,  woe! 


22  ESTHER 

Esther,  Rachel  and  the  Rest. 

{Speaking  in  a  group  in  Centre.) 
Shall  we  be  ever  exiled,  must  it  be 
That  we  must  pass  our  days  as  slaves  for- 
ever? 
Far  from  our  pleasant  land,  and  never  see 

Our  sacred  Hills  and  Jordan's  blessed  river. 
Shall  we  not  see  again  thy  ramparts  rise, 

0  Zion,  and  thy  splendid  towers  rebuilt, 
And  Gcd's  great  Temple  set  for  sacrifice 

By  this  our  race,  atoning  for  our  guilt? 
Or  must  our  weary  footsteps  no  more  tread 
The  land  we  love,  where  those  we  loved  are 
dead? 

No,  we  shall  see  that  lovely  land  no  more 
Nor  anything  we  loved   there,   place  or 
friend, 
Nor  do,  nor  know,  the  things  we  hungered 
for. 


ESTHER  23 

Like  darts  out  of  God's  Hand  our  deaths 
descend 
To  make  an  end. 

Now  we  can  crouch  and  pray  and  count  the 
hours 
Until  our  murderers'  feet  are  on  the  stair, 
And  bright  steel  spirits  the  blood  upon  our 
hair 
And  lays  us  motionless  among  the  flowers, 
White  things  that  do  not  care. 

And  afterwards,  who  knows  what  moths  we'll 
be 
Flying  about  the  lamps  of  life  at  night 

in  death's  great  darkness,  blindly,  blunder- 
ingly. 

r he  brook  that  sings  i'  the  grass  knows  more 
delight, 


24  ESTHER 

The  ox  that  the  men  pole-axe  has  more 

peace 
Than  prisoners'  souls;  but  now  there  comes 
release — 
We  shall  go  home,  to  death,  to-morrow  night. 

O  lamentation,  misery,  woe,  woe! 
Curtain. 


ACT  II. 

Ahasuerus. 

(Ahasuerus  071  his  couch.) 
What  is  the  time?    I  hear  the  water  drip 
Telling  the  time ;  and  all  the  Court  is  still, 
Still  as  the  midnight;  not  a  footstep  stirs 
Save  the  slow  sentry  on  the  palace  wall. 
No  glow  of  light  is  in  the  eastern  heaven ; 
The  barren,  dwindled  moon  her  ruddy  horn 
Heaves  o'er  the  tree- tops;  it  is  midnight, 

sure. 
I  see  Orion  falling,  and  the  Dog 
Bright  at  his  heels.    Deep  midnight.    Not  a 

sound 

Save  the  most  patient  mouse  that  gnaws  the 

wainscot. 

(He  rises  and  walks.) 

0  weary  Time,  I  cannot  sleep  to-night. 

25 


26  ESTHER 

All  still,  all  sleep,  save  only  I  the  King, 
And  that  great  city  at  the  palace  foot 
Lies  sleeping;  yet  a  strange  fear  troubles  me 
That  some  there  do  not  sleep,  but  prepare 

evil — 
Evil  against  myself,  against  the  King. 
Those  foreigners  whom  Haman  told  me  of. 
The  Jews,  who  are  to  die,  as  Haman  urged. 
Excellent  Haman,  guardian  of  my  throne. 

It  may  be  that  his  warning  comes  too  late. 
What  if  those  Jews  be  coming  even  now 
By  the  black  alleys  of  that  sleeping  city 
Into  my  palace,  up  the  guarded  stairs 
From  floor  to  floor,  along  the  corridors, 
Stealthily,   with   masked   eyes,   with   bated 

breath. 
On  tiptoe  to  the  threshold  of  my  room. 

That  captain  of  my  guard  has  eyed   me 
strangely 


ESTHER  27 

These  two  nights  now;  he  had  an  evil  look. 
He  smiled,  but  still,  his  eyes:  they  did  not 
smile. 

Where  is  my  sword?    It's  here.    Look  at  that 

door. 
It  moved.    Was  that  the  wind?    Who  stands 

without? 

I  see  you  standing  there.    Come  in  there,  you. 

Who  is  it? 

Guard. 

(Of.) 

The  great  King's  guard  is  here. 

God  save  the  King!  And  may  he  live  forever! 

Ahasuerus. 

{Going  right  back.) 
Give  me  a  cup  of  drink.    I  thirst.    I  thank 

you. 
You  men  were  sleeping  when  I  called  for  you. 
Sing,  that  I  know  you  watching  till  I  sleep. 


28  ESTHER 

(The  Soldiers  hum  and  sing  together.  Ahas- 
UERUS  settles  to  his  sleep  again.  Count 
20  slowly.  Stop  singing  gradually.  He 
rouses  up  and  walks  again.) 

There  is  a  something  evil  in  this  room; 
I  seem  to  give  it  power  by  lying  down. 
It  is  as  though  the  dark  were  full  of  souls 
That  wait  till  I  am  helpless  and  then  come 
Out  of  the  corners,  out  of  the  air  itself, 
About  my  body;  but,  being  up,  they  fly. 

See,  there  is  nothing  here.    I  pass  my  hand — 
{He  goes  round  Right  and  Back  feeling  the 

walls.) 
Here,  here  and  here.    I  do  not  like  that  cor- 
ner: 
Is  the  thing  there?    The  shadow  on  the  wall 
Is  like  the  black  head  of  an  African 
Thrown  back  in  mockery,  and  it  seems  to 
move — 


ESTHER  29 

To  move  a  little  forward.    It  is  but  shadow. 

{At  Left  Back.) 

Yes,  you  are  only  shadow  on  the  wall, 
Not  what  you  thought. 

(He  comes  down  stage.) 

And  yet  I  know  this  room 
Is  living  with  the  spirits  of  evil  things; 
Spirits  of  evil  things  that  I  have  done. 
It  is  so  diflBcult  to  be  a  King, 
To  wear  the  crown  and  to  be  ringed  with 

death ; 
To  order  "Thus"  with  little  time  to  think, 
No  time  to  know,  but  to  be  just,  far-seeing, 
Wise,  generous,  strict  and  yet  most  merciful, 
As  though  one  knew. 

Now  one  by  one  they  come. 
Those  plotters  who  defied  me,  whom  I  killed, 
Crucified,    burned,    impaled,    or    tore   with 
horses. 


30  ESTHER 

Men  who  with  white  lips  cursed  me,  going  to 
death. 

{He  turns  facing  Left.) 
Yes,  you  pale  ghosts,  I  mastered  you  in  life. 
And  will  in  death.    I  hold  an  Empire  up, 
A  thing  that  IS;  no  glimmering  dream  of 

boys 
Of  what  might  be,  but  will  not  till  men 

change; 
No  phantom  Paradise  of  vengeance  glutted 
By  poor  men  upon  rich  men,  but  a  world 
Rising  and  doing  its  work  and  lying  down 
Because  my  fierceness  keeps  the  wolves  at 

bay. 
And  yet,  those  Jews,  even  at  my  palace  door, 
So  Haman  said,  have  had  my  death  con- 
trived. 
What  if  that  captain  be  in  league  with  them? 
Guard!    Is  Hydaspes  there? 


ESTHER  31 

Guard. 
He  is  here,  great  King.    Hydaspes,  the  King 
calls. 

(Hydaspes  enters  Left.) 

Hydaspes. 
Lord!    Do  you  call? 

Ahasuerus. 
Come  in.    Let  fall  the  hanging.    Come  you 

there, 
Into  the  moonlight,  that  I  see  your  face. 

(Hydaspes  comes  down  Left.) 
Let  me  be  sure  that  no  one  crawls  behind  you. 
Hold  out  your  hands,  so;  let  me  see  the 

fingers. 
Stay  there.    No  nearer. 

You  have  travelled  far? 

Hydaspes. 
,  I  have  been  far,  among  the  Indian  lands. 


32  ESTHER 

Ahasuerus. 
And  saw  strange  peoples? 

Hydaspes. 

Some. 

Ahasuerus. 
Which  were  the  strangest? 

Hydaspes. 
Those  of  Tibet,  who  made  their  pence  of  gold, 
And  reckoned  costly  things  by  cups  of  water. 

Ahasuerus. 
Who  next  seemed  strange  to  you? 

Hydaspes. 

The  Tartar  horsemen 
Who  live  on  cheese  of  mare's  milk,  and  go  on 
For  ever  over  never-ending  grass. 
And  have  no  home  except  the  black  felt  tent 
And  the  great  plain  and  the  great  sky  and 
silence. 


ESTHER  33 

Ahasuerus. 
A  good  life,  that,  for  men.    Who,  next  to 

those? 

Hydaspes. 
The  race  of  Sittras  by  the  sacred  river; 
They  are  all  men,  grown  grey;  no  women 

there. 
They  have  put  by  their  wives  and  families. 
Their  crowns,  their  swords,  their  households 

and  their  cares, 
And  seek  for  wisdom  there,  until  they  die. 

Ahasuerus. 
Do  they  find  wisdom? 

Hydaspes. 

No,  but  they  find  peace. 

Ahasuerus. 
Do  they,  by  Heaven ;  as  a  dead  man  does. 
Wisdom  is  life  upon  the  tickle  edge. 
Not  the  blind  staring  of  the  stupefied 


34  ESTHER 

At  nothing  out  of  nothing.    I  envy  you 
For   travelling   thus   and   seeing   all   these 

things, 
Which  I  shall  only  hear  of. 

Tell  me  now, 
When  you  were  wandering,  did  you  meet  the 
Jews? 

Hydaspes. 
No,  never,  Lord. 

Ahasuerus. 

Nor  heard  about  their  race? 

Hydaspes. 

Not  in  the  East. 
Ahasuerus. 
But  in  the  West  you  have? 

Hydaspes. 

Yes,  here  at  home. 

Ahasuerus. 
What  have  you  heard? 


ESTHER  35 

Hydaspes. 

That  they  are  heathen  men, 
Brought  from  beyond  the  desert  in  the  wars; 
Not  desert  savages,  nor  civilised, 
But  enemies  of  both. 

Ahasuerus. 

Who  told  you  this? 

Hydaspes. 
Prince  Haman  told  me. 

Ahasuerus. 
They  are  now  condemned; 
They  have  been  plotting  here.    You  do  not 

know 
Any  of  their  rebellious  stock,  by  chance? 

Hydaspes. 
No,  Lord,  not  one. 

Ahasuerus. 
Go  to  that  door,  Hydaspes. 
Is  someone  listening  to  us,  as  we  speak? 


36  ESTHER 

Hydaspes. 

{Going  to  door  Left.) 
No,  Lord;  the  guard  is  at  the  door  beyond. 

Ahasuerus. 
Come  nearer  me.    That  captain  of  the  guard, 
Is  he  a  Jew? 

Hydaspes. 

No,  Lord,  a  Persian,  surely, 
Pordanatha,  from  lovely  Arisai, 
The  city  white  like  snow ;  Persian  as  you. 

Ahasuerus. 

Thank  you,  Hydaspes. 
These  times  are  dangerous.     Go  now  from 

here. 
See  the  guards  doubled  at  Queen  Esther's 

doors. 
These  Jews  are  secret  like  that  desert  tribe 
Whom  none  has  seen,  who  walk  the  moonless 
night 


ESTHER  37 

And  strike  men  dead,  and  go,  and  leave  no 

trace 
Save  the  dead  body. 

Hydaspes. 

I  will  place  the  guards 
Myself,  great  King. 

{Exit  Hydaspes,  Lejt.) 

Ahasuerus. 
Esther,  the  Queen,  not  yet  a  trusted  Queen. 
Not  lightly  can  an  Emperor  put  his  trust 
In  man  or  woman.    She  is  proud,  and  pride 
Is  slow  to  give  or  take  in  confidence. 
How  the  Queen  Vashti  comes  into  my  mind ! 
She  disobeyed  my  order  at  the  feast. 
So  she  is  put  away,  and  lives  in  exile. 
How  little  quiet  have  I  known  since  then ! 
Plot,  plot  and  counter-plot,  and  none  to  com- 
fort, 
!N^or  to  advise,  as  Vashti  used  to  do. 


38  ESTHER 

Was  it  a  plot  that  made  her  disobey? 

I  sent  Prince  Memucan  to  bring  her  to  me: 

He  brought  back  word  that  she  refused  to 

come. 
How  if  Prince  Memucan  were  lying  to  me? 
Misquoting  what  she  said,  to  make  me  rage 
And    put   her   from   her   place   beside   my 

throne? 
For  since  she  went,  Prince  Memucan  has 

been 
About  me  day  and  night,  and  grows  in  power. 
Who  are  the  comrades  of  Prince  Memucan? 
Meres,  Adathan ;  but  his  chiefest  friend 
Is  Haman,  my  most  trusted  councillor. 
Haman,  my  friend,  to  whom  I  love  to  give 
Princedoms  and  palaces  and  silver  mines. 
And  yet,  what  if  the  two  conspired  together 
To  rid  me  of  the  Queen,  that  they  might  rule 

me? 
I  will  send  Memucan  beyond  the  seas 


ESTHER  39 

Upon  some  dangerous  mission  of  great  hon- 
our: 
He  shall  away  to-morrow  in  all  haste. 
But  Haman  I  can  trust. 

{He  tries  to  compose  himself  to  sleep.) 

Princedoms,  and  palaces,  and  silver  mines, 

Pomps,  glories,  splendours,  princedoms, 
palaces, — 

Vashti  the  Queen,  and  enemies,  and  prince- 
doms— 

A  long,  long  Ufe,  and  heavy  hours  of  time! 

(He  sleeps.) 

(A  clink  of  metal  to  mark  passage  of  time. 
Strike  a  bell  or  metal  plate  thrice. 
Count  20  slowly.) 

Ahasuerus. 

(Starting  up.) 

It  was  not  I, 

It  was  the  slave  Harbonah  poisoned  him. 


40  ESTHER 

Not  I.    I  was  not  there.    I  never  knew. 
Horrible  white  face  with  the  blotch  of  death ; 
Harbonah  gave  it  in  the  honey  cake — 
The  honey  cake,  I  never  gave  it  you. 
I  was  not  at  the  feast,  it  is  well  known 
I  was  most  sick  that  night. 

{He  wakes.) 

Merach!     Merach!     begone!     It  was  not 

Merach, 
But  someone  at  the  footing  of  the  bed. 
Someone,  a  Jew,  with  bones  instead  of  face 
And  blood  that  dripped. 

(He  gropes  at  foot  of  bed.) 
(He  rises.) 
O  blessed  night,  so  full  of  peace,  so  calm, 
After  that  horror. 

Ah !  I  know  it  now, 
What  the  Chaldean  told  me  long  ago. 
That  I  should  know  no  quiet  rest  at  night, 


ESTHER  41 

Being  a  King,  unless  I  ate  of  bread 
Baked  in  a  house  where  sorrow  never  came. 
O  blessed  bread,  would  I  could  eat  of  thee! 

{Goes  hack.) 
Guards!  are  the  gates  secure? 

Guard. 

(Of.) 

God  save  the  King! 

The  King's  gates  are  made  sure,  and  the 
gates'  keys 

Here,  under  guard.  May  the  King  live  for 
ever! 

(Ahasuerus  comes  down  Centre,  then  half- 
way back  to  Guard.) 

Ahasuerus. 
The  sentries  on  the  walls;  do  they  report 
All  quiet  in  the  city? 

Guard. 

All,  great  King. 


42  ESTHER 

Ahasuerus. 
No  armed  men  moving,  no  suspicious  thing? 

Guard. 
Nothing,  0  Son  of  Heaven,  but  silent  dark- 
ness. 
And  here  and  there  a  priest  of  the  great  sun 
Praying  long  life  and  blessing  on  our  Mon- 
arch. 

Ahasuerus. 

{Coming  down.) 
Long  life,  long  misery! 

{Count  10  slowly.) 
It  is  within  this  room  the  horror  is — 
That  thing,  that  Jew,  that  thing  out  of  the 
grave. 

No,  nothing,  nothing!    I  can  see  there's  noth- 
ing. 
So — I  will  sleep.    I  will  repeat  that  song 
Made  long  ago  by  one  who  could  not  sleep, 


ESTHER  43 

To  help  his  fellow-sufferers. 

{Repeats.) 

Along  the  beach  a  wave  comes  slowly  in, 

And  breaks,  and  dies  away,  and  dies  away; 

The  moon  is  dimmed  and  all  the  ropes 

are  taut. 

Along  the  beach  a  wave  comes  slowly  in, 

And  breaks  and  dies  away,  and  dies  away. 

It  is  no  season,  sailor,  to  quit  port. 

Along — etc. 

(He  sleeps.) 

(Count  10  slowly.    Enter  Ghost  of  Thares, 

Right.    The  Ghost  comes  behind  Ahas- 

UERUS  and  across  stage  to  Left  Centre. 

It  stands  still  and  hinnies  like  a  snipe.) 

Ahasuerus. 

(In  his  sleep.) 
0  no!  Spare  me!  Spare  me! 
Loose  me  my  hands.    0  they  have  tied  my 
feet! 


44  ESTHER 

I  cannot  get  from  bed,  and  now  they  come. 
Merciful  Gods!    my   thigh-bones  are  both 

broken. 
I  cannot  stir.    Who  is  it  gibbering  there? 
The  blood  is  on  the  bed-clothes  wetting  me. 
Who  are  you?    Who? 

Thares. 
{In  a  disguised,  piping  voice.) 
The  shadow  of  what  I  was. 
Come  for  your  blood. 

Ahasuerus. 
I'll  give  you  gold — my  kingdom — 
But  let  me  go ! 

Thares. 
{Creeping  slowly  across,  hands  out.) 
I  cannot,  Ahasuerus. 

I  want  your  life,  the  soul  out  of  your  body. 
See,  I  come  nearer  and  a  little  nearer, 
A  little  nearer  still,  and  put  out  hands — 


ESTHER  45 

Lean,  skinny  hands,  that  used  to  serve  your 

food, 
Thin  hands  to  put  your  powerless  hands 

aside 
And  take  you  by  the  throat  as  now  I  do. 
And  squeeze,  and  squeeze  the  life  out  of  your 

flesh! 

{He  begins  to  strangle  Ahasuerus.) 

Ahasuerus. 

{With  effort.) 
Ah,  gods!    He  kills  me!    Kills  me! 
Out,  0  gods! 

Hydaspes!    Help! 
Hydaspes!     Guards!    Hydaspes! 

{Exit  Thares,  L.) 

Hydaspes. 

{R.) 

Lord! 


46  ESTHER 

Ahasuerus. 
The  villain  strangled  me.    It  was  a  dream. 
A  dreadful  dream !    And  yet  I  knew  his  face. 
Who  was  the  man?     One  who  made  plots 

against  me, 
And  died,  from  torture,  as  a  due  reward. 
Who  was  the  man? 

Go,  bring  the  records  here, 
The  wise  Chaldeans  and  the  record-writers, 
And  let  them  read  the  records,  for  I  know 
The  man's  name  will  be  there. 

(Exit  Hydaspes,  Left.) 
It  was  his  spirit. 
An  evil  thing,  a  harbinger  of  evil, 
A  plotter  coming  as  the  vulture  comes 
Before  the  corpse.    But  the  Chaldean  scribes 
Will  know  his  name,  and  by  their  magicry 
Tell  me  what  evil  comes. 

Thares  it  was — 
Thares,  the  man  was,  who  was  put  to  death 


ESTHER  47 

For  plotting  with  the  other,  Bigdana. 

{Goes  hack.) 
Let  pass  the  wise  Chaldeans  when  they  come. 

The  Guard. 

(OjJ.) 

God  save  the  King!    May  the  King  live  for 

everl 

Curtain. 


ACT  III. 

Scene: — The  Throne  Room  of  Ahasuerus. 
Throne  Settle. 

(Hydaspes  discovered.   Haman  enters  Left.) 

Haman. 

Why  do  you  bring  me  to  this  fearful  place 
Even  before  the  dawn? 

Hydaspes. 

You  trust  to  me: 
Anywhere  else  we  might  be  overheard. 

Haman. 
What  is  the  secret  that  you  wish  to  tell  me? 

Hydaspes. 

Lord,  I  know  well  that  I  have  sworn  to  you 

To  tell  you  all  the  secrets  of  the  palace. 

The  King  is  overwhelmed  in  utter  gloom. 
48 


ESTHER  49 

During  this  night  a  ghastly  dream  has  scared 
him; 

In  the  calm  silence  of  the  night  he  shrieked ; 

I  hurried  in ;  I  found  him  babbling  wildly, 

Talking  of  peril  threatening  him  with  death, 

Of  enemies,  of  evil,  and  of  Esther. 

And  in  these  horrors  did  he  pass  the  night; 

Then,  weary  from  the  sleep  which  fled  from 
him. 

He  tried  to  clear  his  spirit  of  the  horror 

And  bade  men  bring  him  in  the  written  rec- 
ords, 

Telling  of  all  his  glory,  and  his  reign. 

There  in  his  bed  he  rests  while  these  are  read. 

Haman. 

What  portion  of  his  reign  is  being  read? 

Hydaspes, 
All  of  his  glorious  time  since  he  was  King. 


60  ESTHER 

Haman. 

Has  he  forgotten  now  his  ghastly  dream? 

Hydaspes. 
He  has  assembled  all  his  great  magicians 
Who  read  the  will  of  Heaven  in  darksome 

dreams. 
But  you  yourself  seem  troubled  as  by  dreams; 
You  seem  dismayed;  have  you  some  secret 
trouble? 

(Haman  turns.) 

Haman. 

Can  you  ask  that,  and  see  my  situation? 
Hated,  feared,  envied  by  the  men  I  crush. 

(Folds  arms.) 

Hydaspes. 
Ah,  upon  whom  has  Heaven  smiled  more 

gently? 
You  see  the  whole  world  prostrate  at  your 

feet. 


ESTHER  51 

Haman. 

The  whole  world?    Every  day  a  filthy  slave, 
With  brazen  brow,  disdains  and  injures  me. 

Hydaspes. 
Who  is  this  enemy  of  State  and  King? 

Haman. 
You  know,  perhaps,  the  name  of  Mordecai? 

Hydaspes. 
Chief  of  an  impious  and  rebellious  race? 

Haman. 

Yes,  he. 

Hydaspes. 

Lord,  can  so  weak  a  foeman  trouble  you? 

Haman. 

The  insolent  scoundrel  never  bows  to  me. 
When  all  the  Persians  bow  with  holy  awe 
And  dare  not  raise  their  foreheads  from  the 

earth. 
He,  proudly  seated,  with  unbended  head, 


62  ESTHER 

Treats  all  my  honour  as  impiety 

And  looks  at  me  with  a  seditious  brow; 

And  day  and  night  he  haunts  the  palace  door. 

Always,  when  I  go  out  or  enter  in, 

His  hateful  face  afflicts  me  and  pursues  me, 

And  all  night  long  my  troubled  spirit  sees 

him. 

(Right  down  stage.) 

This  morning  I,  though  up  before  the  dawn, 

Found  him  before  me,  smeared  with  filthy 

dust. 
Dressed  all  in  rags,  all  pale;  but  still  his  eye 
Kept  underneath  the  ashes  the  same  pride. 
Dear  friend,  how  does  he  dare  this  brazen 

boldness? 
You,  who  see  all  that  passes  in  the  palace, 
Do  you  believe  that  friends  encourage  him? 
What  backing  has  he? 

Hydaspes. 
My  Lord,  you  know  that  it  was  he  discovered 


ESTHER  53 

That  bloody  plot  of  Thares  to  the  King. 
The  King  then  promised  to  reward  him  well, 
Though  since  that  time  he  has  forgotten  it. 

Haman. 
I  as  a  young  child  came  among  the  Persians; 
I  govern  now  where  I  was  made  a  slave; 
My  wealth  is  equal  to  the  wealth  of  kings, 
Only  my  forehead  wants  the  royal  crown. 
{Crosses  to  Right  in  front  of  Hydaspes.) 
Yet  all  my  honour  is  but  little  to  me 
While  Mordecai  at  the  palace  entrance 
Tortures  my  spirit  with  a  thousand  daggers. 
And  all  my  grandeur  seems  to  me  as  none 
While  that  vile  slave  is  lighted  by  the  sun. 

Hydaspes. 

(Moves  down  to  Left.) 
You  will  be  rid  of  him  in  ten  hours'  time; 
The  whole   Jew  race   is  promised   to   the 
vultures. 


64  ESTHER 

Haman. 

Ah !  'tis  a  long,  long  time  to  my  impatience. 

{Sits  on  throne.) 

Listen,  I'll  tell  the  story  of  my  vengeance. 

It  was  through  him,  who  would  not  bow  to 
me, 

That  I  have  caused  this  sentence  that  de- 
stroys them — 

Vengeance  too  little  for  a  man  so  foul. 

For  when  one  dares  affront  a  man  like 
Haman, 

The  following  vengeance  cannot  be  too  great. 

One  must  have  vengeance 

Such  as  will  make  the  universe  to  tremble, 

So  that  the  whole  Jew  race  be  drowned  in 
blood. 

I  wish  that  some  day  in  the  startled  cen- 
turies 

A  man  shall  say:  "Yes,  once  there  were  the 
Jews, 


ESTHER  55 

An  insolent  race  that  covered  all  the  world; 
But  one  of  them  dares  stir  the  wrath  of 

Haman : 
Immediately  they  disappeared  from  earth." 

Hydaspes. 
Lord,  is  it  your  Amalekitish  blood 
That  secretly  excites  you  to  destroy  them? 

Haman. 

I  know  the  bloody  feud  there  was  of  old 
Between  the  Jews  and  the  Amalekites; 
But  I  am  so  attached. to  worldly  greatness, 
I  do  not  feel  this  racial  prejudice. 
Mordecai  is  guilty,  that  suffices; 
And  so  I  stirred  Ahasuerus'  mind; 

(Change  of  voice  to  venom.) 
I  told  him  lies,  invented  calumnies, 
Touched  him  with  fear,  and  left  him  terrified; 
Told  him  the  Jews  were  arming. 
Rich,  seditious, 


66  ESTHER 

Their  very  God  hateful  to  other  gods. 
I  told  the  King  "These  strangers  only  hope 
To  wreck  the  peace  in  which  we  find  our- 
selves. 
Strike  them,"  I  said,  "before  they  strike  at 

you 
And   fill   your   treasure-houses   with    their 

booty." 
I  told  him,  he  believed  me,  and  at  once 
The  King  gave  me  the  seal  of  Royal  Power. 
"Save  me,"  he  said,  "protect  our  royal  peace, 
Ruin  those  scoundrels  and  their  wealth  is 

yours." 
All  of  the  Jewish  race  was  thus  condemned, 
I  and  the  King  arranged  the  day  of  slaughter. 
But  to  await  ten  hours  that  traitor's  death 
Is  too  much  anguish  to  my  aching  heart. 
Something.  I  know  not  what,  poisons  my  joy: 
Why  must  I  see  that  scoundrel  ten  hours 
more? 


ESTHER  67 

Hydaspes. 
Can  you  not  have  him  killed  with  but  one 

word? 
Lord,  ask  the  King  to  give  him  up  to  you. 

Haman. 
That's  why  I  am  here,  seeking  a  fitting  mo- 
ment. 
You  know  as  well  as  I  this  pitiless  Prince, 
How  terrible  his  sudden  rage  can  be; 
Often  he  breaks  the  network  of  our  plans. 

(Pause.) 
My  fear  too  subtly  works  to  torture  me; 
The  Jew  to  him  must  be  too  vile  a  soul. 

Hydaspes. 
0  why  delay?   Go,  build  the  gallows  for  him. 

Haman. 

There's  noise — I  go.     If  the  King  calls  for 
me — 


58  ESTHER 

Hydaspes. 
Enough. 

(They  go  off  Lejt  to  wings.) 

{Enter  Ahasuerus  and  Asaph.) 

Ahasuerus. 
So  then,  without  this  faithful  information, 
Two  traitors  would  have  killed  their  King  in 

bed. 
Let  people  leave  me; 

{Exit  of  Hydaspes  and  Ham  an.) 

Asaph,  stay  with  me. 

(Asaph  behind  King.    King  sits  on  throne.) 

I  must  confess  I  had  forgotten  them, 
Almost  forgotten  their  most  bloody  crime ; 
And  now  this  reading  brings  it  back  to  me, 
I  see  again  the  end  their  crime  achieved 
And  how  by  torments  they  were  put  to  death. 
Now,  of  that  faithful  subject,  whose  quick 

eye 
Unravelled  all  the  thread  of  their  black  plot 


ESTHER  59 

Through  whom,  in  fact,  Persia  and  I  were 

saved, 

What  honour,  what  rewards  were  given  to 

him? 

Asaph. 

They  promised  much,  and  that  is  all  I  know. 

Ahasuerus. 
Wicked  forgetfulness  of  such  great  service. 
Certain  effect  of  my  too  busy  life. 
A  Prince  is  ever  weighed  with  busy  cares. 
Dragged  on  unendingly  from  thing  to  thing ; 
The  future  troubles  him,  the  present  strikes 

him. 
But  swifter  than  the  light  the  past  escapes 

him. 
Ah,  rather  let  the  crime  escape  by  vengeance 
Than  such  rare  service  lose  its  right  reward. 
That  man  who  showed  such  noble  zeal  for 

me — 
Is  he  alive? 


60  ESTHER 

Asaph. 
He  sees  the  star  that  lights  you. 

Ahasuerus. 

Why  has  he  not  demanded  his  reward? 

What  distant  country  hides  him  from  my 

love? 

Asaph. 

Lord,  uncomplaining  of  yourself  and  fate, 

He  drags  his  life  out  at  your  palace  doors. 

Ahasuerus. 
What  is  his  name? 

Asaph. 

His  name  is  Mordecai. 

Ahasuerus. 
What  is  his  country? 

Asaph. 
Lord,  since  I  have  to  tell  you. 
He  is  a  captive  Jew,  condemned  to  death. 


ESTHER  61 

Ahasuerus. 
He  is  a  Jew?    0  Heaven,  when  my  life 
Was  threatened  to  be  taken  by  my  subjects, 
A  Jew  protects  me  from  my  subjects'  swords; 
A  Jew  has  saved  me  from  the  Persians'  ven- 
geance! 
But  since  he  saved  me,  be  he  what  he  may — 
Here!  someone!  (Calls.) 

(Enter  Hydaspes,  Left.) 

Hydaspes. 
Lord? 

Ahasuerus. 

Look  by  that  door, 
See  if  some  noble  of  my  Court  is  there. 

Hydaspes. 
Haman  is  at  your  door,  since  before  dawn. 

Ahasuerus. 
Let  him  come  in,  he  may  enlighten  me. 

(Hydaspes  bows  and  exit.) 


62  ESTHER 

{Enter  Haman,  Lejt.) 
Hail,  happy  standfast  of  thy  master's  throne, 
Soul  of  my  counsel,  who  so  many  times 
Has  lightened  in  my  hand  my  heavy  sceptre. 
A  dark  reproach  embarrasses  my  soul. 
I  know  how  pure  a  zeal  inflames  your  heart, 
I  know  no  lying  ever  stains  your  lips, 
I  know  my  interest  only  is  your  thought, 
So  tell  me, 

What  ought  a  very  mighty  prince  to  do 
To  honour  any  subject  whom  he  loves? 
By  what  great  glory  worthy  of  a  King 
Can  I  reward  a  man  of  faith  and  merit? 
Put  not  a  limit  on  my  condescension. 
Think  of  my  power  ere  you  answer  me. 

Haman. 

{Aside.^ 

Haman,  it  is  for  you  yourself  you  speak ; 
{Comes  down  stage  and  speaks  to  audience.) 
What  other  subject  could  he  wish  to  honour? 


ESTHER  63 

Ahasuerus. 
What  do  you  think? 

Haman. 
0  King,  I  think  of  all  the  Persian  Kings, 

Remembering  what  they  did  on  such  oc- 
casions 

But  bring  them  back  in  vain  into  my  mind. 

{He  begins  to  move  back,  so  that  five  lines 
from  this  he  is  slightly  behind  Ahasue- 
rus.) 

How  should  their  deeds  make  precedents  for 
you? 

For  what  are  they  when  put  beside  yourself? 

Your  reign  will  serve  as  model  to  all  time. 

You  wish  then  to  reward  some  faithful  sub- 
ject? 

Honour  alone  rewards  a  noble  mind. 

(Haman  gets  behind  to  Left  of  Ahasuerus.) 

Lord,  I  should  wish  that  he,  that  happy 
mortal, 


64  ESTHER 

Should,  like  yourself,  be  decked  to-day  in 

purple. 
And  wear  a  sacred  crown  upon  his  brow. 
And  go  through  Shushan  with  the  world  to  see, 
Riding  upon  your  war-horse  gloriously. 
And  as  a  crown  to  this  magnificence, 

(During  these  lines  he  comes  forward  down 
stage,  and,  though  speaking  to  Ahasue- 
Rus,  is  carried  away  by  his  own  elo- 
quence.) 
Let  some  great  Lord,  magnificent  in  power. 
The  next  man  in  the  Empire  to  yourself. 
Lead  the  proud  war-horse  by  the  bridle  rein; 
And  let  the  proud  Lord  in  his  courtly  dress, 
Cry  with  a  high  voice  in  the  public  places: 
"Mortals,  prostrate  yourselves,  'tis  thus  the 

King 
Crowns  faith  and  honours  merit." 

(Pause.) 


ESTHER  65 

Ahasuerus. 
I  see  that  wisdom's  self  inspires  you, 
In  every  point  your  judgment  backs  my  will. 
Go,  lose  no  time ;  what  you  have  said  to  me 
I  wish  in  every  point  to  be  made  good. 
Virtue  no  longer  shall  be  hidden  here. 
Go  then,  0  Haman,  to  the  palace  gates. 

(Pause.    Haman  shows  joy.) 
There  you  will  find  the  poor  Jew  Mordecai — 
(Pause.    Haman  shows  more  joy.) 
He  is  the  man  whom  I  desire  to  honour. 
Order  his  triumph,  march  before  him,  you ; 
Let  your  voice  ring  through  Shushan  with  his 

name. 
Let  every  knee  bend  whereso'er  he  comes. 
Now  leave  me,  all. 

Haman. 

(Aside.) 

Gods! 

(Exit  Haman.) 


66  ESTHER 

Ahasuerus. 
Never  has  subject  gloried  in  such  honour, 
But  yet  I  show  how  deeply  I  can  fear 
To  be  ungrateful; 

And  the  world  will  see 
The  innocent  distinguished  from  the  guilty. 
Yet  all  the  same,  that  loathsome  race  of 

Jews — 
(Esther,  Rachel  and  Chorus  enter  Left, 

crouching.) 
What  insolent  mortal  comes  to  look  for  death. 
Entering  without  my  orders? 
Guards!    Guards!    What,  Esther,  you? 
You  here  and  unexpected! 

Esther. 

(Swooning.) 

0  children,  hold  your  Queen! 

(Rachel  on  Esther's  left,  and  1st  and  2nd 
Chorus  support  her.) 

1  die! 


ESTHER  67 

Ahasuerus. 
No,  Esther,  what  do  you  fear? 

No ;  do  not  think 
I  made  this  bitter  order  against  you. 
Live,  for  you  see  I  stretch  my  golden  sceptre 
Towards  you,  as  a  witness  of  my  pardon. 

Esther. 

What  friendly  voice  commands  that  I  should 

live? 

Ahasuerus. 

Do  you  not  recognize  your  husband's  voice? 

Esther. 
Lord,  I  have  never  witnessed  save  with  fear 
The  majesty  upon  your  kingly  brow; 
Judge  then  the  terror  in  my  troubled  soul 
To  see  that  brow  in  anger  against  me. 
What   daring   heart   could   see   without   a 

shudder. 
Or  bear  the  light  that  glitters  from  your  eyes 
Like  the  bright  anger  of  the  Living  God! 


68  ESTHER 

Ahasuerus. 

0  sun !    0  fires  of  immortal  light! 

1  too  am  troubled  and  can  hardly  bear 
To  see,  as  now,  her  terror  and  dismay. 

0  Queen,  put  by  the  terror  that  o'erwhelms 
you, 

You  are  the  mistress  of  my  kingly  heart. 

Come,  test  my  friendship  for  you.  What  you 
will— 

What  will  you  have?  The  half  of  ray  pos- 
sessions? 

Esther. 
And  can  a  King,  obeyed  by  the  whole  world, 

(Kneeling.) 
Before  whom  all  must  bow  and  kiss  the  dust. 
Look  with   such  kindness  on  his  meanest 
slave? 

Ahasuerus. 
This  sceptre,  and  this  Empire,  and  this  terror, 


ESTHER  69 

And  these  profound  respects,  and  all  this 

pomp, 
Bring  little  sweetness  to  me  and  fatigue  me, 
Believe  me,  Esther.    But  I  find  in  you 
A  grace  that  charms  me  and  that  never  tires, 
Nothing    but    innocence,    and    peace,    and 

beauty. 
That  drives  the  darkness  of  my  troubles  from 

me 
And  makes  less  fearful  all  the  rage  of  foes. 
Therefore,  without  this  terror,  answer  me: 
Tell  me  what  thrilling  business  brings  you 

here. 
What  care,  what  trouble,  makes  you  shudder 

thus? 
Speak ;  you  have  but  to  ask,  to  have  your  will. 
If  aught  you  wish  is  in  a  mortal's  giving. 

Esther. 
0  goodness  of  my  King! 
Indeed  a  thrilling  business  brings  me  here. 


70  ESTHER 

Here  I  await  my  happiness  or  death ; 

All,  mighty  King,  depends  upon  your  will; 

One  word  from  you  may  end  my  agony 

And  make  me  happiest  of  the  queens  on 

earth. 

Ahasuerus. 

Speak!    You  inflame  my  wish  to  hear  your 

trouble. 

Esther. 

Lord,  if  I  found  a  favour  in  your  eyes, 

{On  her  knees.) 
If  ever  you  consented  to  my  prayers. 
Grant  before  all  that  I  this  day  receive  you, 
My  lord  and  sovereign,  at  a  solemn  feast, 
And  grant  that  Haman  be  invited  thither; 
For  before  him  I'll  dare  to  break  my  silence 
And  also  tell  why  I  demand  his  presence. 

(Chorus  stand.) 
Ahasuerus. 
Esther,  you  trouble  me;  yet,  be  it  so. 
Let  all  be  done  as  you  desire  it. 


ESTHER  71 

{Order  to  Guard.) 
You! — Seek  for  Haman;  let  him  understand 
He  is  invited  by  the  Queen  to  feast. 

{Exit  Guard,  Lejt.) 
{Enter  Hydaspes,  Right.    Comes  down  be^ 
low  King.) 

Hydaspes. 
The  wise  Chaldeans  are  assembled  here, 
According  to  your  order. 

Ahasuerus. 
Princess,    a    strange    dream    occupies    my 

thought; 
The  answer  of  the  wise  men  affects  you. 
Come!  you  shall  hear  them  from  behind  a 

curtain, 
And  afterwards  shall  give  me  your  advice. 
I  fear  some  treacherous  enemy  plots  against 

us. 
Follow  me,  Esther. 


72  ESTHER 

Esther. 

You,  my  gentle  friends, 
Wait  here  till  I  return. 

(Ahasuerus  and  Esther  go  off,  Right.) 
(Rachel    crosses    Right,    then    turns   and 
speaks.   As  she  speaks  the  Chorus  come 
down  the  stage.) 

Rachel. 
What  do  you  think,  my  sisters,  of  our  for- 
tunes? 
Which  do  you  think  will  triumph, 
Esther  or  Haman? 
Will  God's  will,  or  will  man's  will  triumph 

here? 

Chorus. 

We  cannot  tell.    We  know  that  God's  great 

Hand 

Is  heavy  on  the  race  of  Jews  this  day. 

Chorus. 
It  is  because  of  sin,  because  of  blood, 

Blood  of  just  men,  shed  in  iniquity. 


ESTHER  73 

That  we,  the  lost,  are  trampled  to  the  mud 
And  are  condemned  to  die  in  slavery. 

Soon,  when  the  evening  comes,  our  foes  will 
seek 
All  of  our  race.    Their  bloody  swords  will 
slay 
Men,  women,  children,  all,  the  strong  and 
weak, 
And  heap  our  mangled  bodies  by  the  way, 
To  know  no  burial. 

(Kneel  here.) 

Lord,  if  we  search  our  ways  and  turn  again, 
Surely  Thou  wilt  forgive,  and  Thou  wilt 
send 
Help,  like  an  army,  mercy  like  the  rain. 
And    save    us    from    destruction    at    the 
end. 
Save  us,  0  save  us! 


74  ESTHER 

The  doom  is  cast,  our  murderers  draw  the 

sword, 
None  can  avert  our  death  but  Thou,  0  Lord  I 

Without,  our  murderers  hasten  even  now. 
We  are  as  dead,  and  none  can  save  but  Thou. 

Curtain. 


ACT  rv. 

In  Front  of  Curtain,  on  a  platform  or  avant- 
scene,  (Haman,  Zeresh.) 

Zeresh. 
Here,  by  the  still  shut  gate  of  Esther's  hall, 
Hark  to  your  wife;  by  all  that  you  hold 

sacred, 
My  Lord,  hide  your  blind  rage  against  the 

Jews, 
Make  bright  that  forehead  shadowed  now 

with  sadness: 
Kings  fear  reproach,  and  sadness 
You,  chosen  by  the  Queen,  the  one  guest 

asked, 
Show  that  you  feel  that  proud  feUcity, 
Show  that  you  feel  it,  even  through  any  evil. 
I, have  a  hundred  times  been  told  by  you 

75 


76  ESTHER 

That  he  who  cannot  stomach  an  affront 
Nor   hide   his   proper   feelings   with    false 

colours, 
Should  fly  from  Courts  and  Kings. 
All  men  have  disappointments:  often,  too, 
An  outrage  bravely  borne,,  endured  with  pru- 
dence, 
Has  led  a  man  even  to  the  highest  honours. 

Haman. 

Misery!  misery,  frightful  to  my  thought! 
0  shame  that  never  can  be  wiped  away! 
A  loathsome  Jew,  the  foulest  of  his  kind, 
Has  now  been  clad  in  purple  by  these  hands. 
It's  not  enough  that  he  should  conquer  me. 
That  I  have  served  as  herald  to  his  glory, 
While  he,  the  traitor,  mocked  at  my  con- 
fusion ; 
And  all  the  people  mocking  after  him. 
Seeing  the  blushes  covering  my  face. 


ESTHER  77 

Mocked  me  and  muttered  of  my  certain  fall. 
0  cruel  King!    And  this  has  been  your  pleas- 
ure! 
You  only  gave  me  honours  in  the  past 
To  make  me  feel  your  tyranny  the  better 
And  drive  me  deeper  still  in  ignominy. 

Zeresh. 
Why  judge  so  harshly  of  the  King's  inten- 
tion? 
He  thinks  that  he  rewards  a  generous  deed. 
Ought  one  not  rather  to  be  much  astonished 
That  he  so  long  has  left  it  unrewarded? 
He  has  done  nothing  but  by  your  advice, 
And  you  yourself  dictated  all  the  ceremony. 
In  all  the  Empire  you  are  next  to  him; 
Say,  does  he  know  how  much  you  loathe  the 

Jew? 

Haman. 

The  King  knows  well  how  much  he  owes  to 
me; 


78  ESTHER 

The  King  knows  well  how  I,  to  make  him 

great, 
Have  stamped  remorse,  fear,  shame,  beneath 

my  feet, 
And  used  his  power  with  a  heart  of  brass. 
Silenced  the  laws,  made  innocent  people  sob. 
Only  for  him  contemned  the  Persians'  hatred. 
Cherished  and  sought  the  curses  of  the  peo- 
ple. 
And  for  reward,  the  barbarous  King  to-day 
Exposed  me  to   their  mocking  and  their 
hatred. 

Zeresh. 
My  Lord,  let  me  speak  plain.    That  zeal  you 

show, 
That  zeal  of  bending  all  things  to  his  power. 
Had  it  a  purer  object  than  yourself? 
Take  without  going  further  this  one  case: 
Of  all  the  ruined  Jews  made  desolate, 
Surely  you  ruined  them  to  please  yourself! 


ESTHER  79 

Can  you  not  rightly  fear  that  even  now 
The  people  loathe  us,  and  the  Court  detests 

us? 

(Haman  turns  away.) 
Lord,  I  must  speak.    My  Lord,  this  Jew — 

this  Jew 
Heaped  now  with  honours,  frightens  me. 
Misfortunes  often  follow  on  each  other. 
The  Jewish  race  always  brought  death  to 

yours. 
Take  now  this  morning's  trouble  as  an  omen : 
Perhaps  your  fortune  is  about  to  leave  you; 
Fortune  is  fickle.    Act  before  she  leaves  you. 

{She  touches  him.) 
My  lord,  what  more  ambition  can  you  have? 
I  shudder  when  I  see  the  way  you  take. 
{He  turns  slightly  to  her.    He  is  below  her.) 
The  deep  abysses  opening  before  me. 
Nought  but  a  horrible  fall  before  our  feet. 
Lord,  let  us  fly. 


80  ESTHER 

(Here  she  holds  him  by  the  shoulder.) 
And  seek  some  calmer  fate, 

Fly  to  the  Hellespont  and  those  far  shores 

Where  in  old  tune  your  wandering  fathers 
were. 

Let  us  away,  away  from  fortune's  malice! 

Send  on  our  richest  treasures  ere  we  start; 

Leave  me  to  manage;  I  will  take  the  chil- 
dren,— 

Have  no  more  care  except  to  hide  yourself, 

For  the  most  terrible  and  stormy  sea 

Is  safer  to  us  than  this  treacherous  Court. 

But  someone  hurriedly  is  coming  here! 

(Enter  Hydaspes  from  below,  in  front,  Left.) 

Hydaspes. 
My  Lord,  I  came  to  seek  you: 
Your  absence  takes  away  the  general  joy, 
Ahasuerus  bids  me  bring  you  to  him. 

Haman. 

Is  Mordecai  also  at  this  feast? 


ESTHER  81 

Hydaspes. 
Why  do  you  let  this  image  of  the  Jew 
Torment  you  even  as  a  royal  guest? 
Let  the  Jew  glory  in  his  petty  triumph, 
Can  he  avoid  the  fury  of  the  King? 
You  rule  Ahasuerus  heart  and  soul  ; 
The  Jew  has  been  rewarded,  but  next  time 
Will  be  beheaded. 

We  have  but  garlanded  your  victim  for  you. 
And  I  suspect  that  you,  when  backed  by 

Esther, 
Will  come  to  even  greater  honours  here. 

Haman. 

0  could  I  but  believe  your  joyful  news! 

Hydaspes. 

1  heard  the  answers  of  the  wise  Chaldeans. 
They  say  a  treacherous  stranger  plots  and 

plans 
To  kill  the  Queen. 


82  ESTHER 

The  King,  who  does  not  know  this  guilty 

traitor, 
Thinks  that  the  plan  is  plotted  by  the  Jews. 

Haman. 
Dear  friend,  the  Jews  are  truly  but  wild 

beasts; 
One  must  above  all  fear  their  daring  Chief. 
Earth  has  too  long  endured  the  horror  of 

them, 
Nature  cannot  be  too  soon  rid  of  them. 
So  now  I  breathe  again. 

Good-bye,  dear  Zeresh! 

Hydaspes. 
Enter,  receive  the  honour  ready  for  you. 
{Curtain   rises   and    discovers   Ahasuerus, 
Esther.    Haman  entering.) 

Ahasuerus. 

(To  Esther  at  his  right.) 
Ah !    Your  last  speeches  have  a  secret  grace; 


ESTHER  83 

All  that  you  do  displays  a  noble  mind 
Beyond  all  price,  beyond  all  gold  or  purple. 
What  virtuous  country  bore  so  rare  a  treas- 
ure? 
What  wisdom  reared  you  in  your  infancy? 
But  tell  me  what  it  is  you  want  from  me, 
For  all  your  wishes,  Esther,  shall  be  granted, 
Even  to  the  half  of  this  my  powerful  Empire. 
This  that  I  promised  once,  I  now  repeat. 

Esther. 
No  such  great  wishes.  Lord :  but  this  I  long 

for, 
Since  even  my  King  himself  has  bid  me 
speak. 

{She  flings  herself  at  his  feet.) 
I  dare  beseech  you  both  for  my  own  life 
And  the  salvation  of  a  wretched  people 
That  you  have  now  condemned  to  die  with 
.    me. 


84  ESTHER 

Ahasuerus. 

(Raising  her.) 
To  die?    And  you? 

What  people?   What  is  this? 

Haman. 

(Aside.) 

I  tremble! 

Esther. 

Esther,  my  Lord,  her  father  was  a  Jew. 

You  know  the  harshness  of  your  cruel  orders. 

Haman. 

(Aside.) 
Ah,  gods! 

Ahasuerus. 
Ah !  what  a  blow !  you  pierce  me  to  the  heart. 
You,  daughter  of  a  Jew? 

You  whom  I  love ! 
Goodness  and  innocence  their  very  selves! 
Esther,   whom   I   believed   did   come   from 
Heaven, 


ESTHER  85 

Is  after  all  born  from  this  impure  stock ! 
Unhappy  King! 

Esther. 

You  can  reject  my  prayer, 
But  I  demand  at  least  for  a  last  grace 
That  you  should  hear  me  speak,  Lord,  to  the 

end, 
And  above  all,  let  Haman  check  me  not. 

Ahasuerus. 

Speak! 

Esther. 

0  God,  confound  daring  and  knavery ! 
These  Jews  of  whom  you  mean  to  rid  the 

world. 
Whom  you  believe  the  outcasts  of  mankind. 
Were  sovereigns  in  a  happy  land  of  old 
While  they  were  faithful  to  their  fathers' 

God: 
God,  only  Master  of  the  earth  and  skies, 
The  Eternal  One,  the  Maker  of  the  world, 


86  ESTHER 

Who  hears  the  sighing  of  the  tortured  poor. 
There  came  a  day  the  Jews  neglected  Him, 
They  dared  raise  altars  unto  other  gods, 
And  in  a  day  kings,  peoples,  all  were   scat- 
tered, 
And  their  Assyrian  captivity 
Became  the  just  reward  of  their  unfaith. 
The  time  went  by,  and  after  many  years 
The  captive  Jews  enjoyed  a  happier  lot. 
You  became  King,  you,  friend  of  innocence, 
Whose  mercy  all  declared  with  cries  of  joy. 
But  cruel  minds  surround  the  gentlest  princes 
And  poison  even  the  gentlest  mind  with  lies; 
And  here  a  ruffian  from  the  depths  of  Thrace 
Comes  to  encourage  cruelty  in  you; 
A  statesman,  hating  you  and  all  your  glory. 

Haman. 

Your  glory?   I?    Can  you  believe  it,  Heaven? 
I,  with  no  other  aim,  no  other  god! 


ESTHER  d>7 

Ahasuerus. 

Silence! 

Do  you  dare  speak  before  the  King  com- 
mands? 

Esther. 
You  see  our  cruel  enemy  before  you ; 
'Tis  he,  this  faithless  and  barbarian  states- 
man, 
Who  with  malignant  zeal  blinding  your  eyes, 
Has  armed  your  strength  against  our  inno- 
cence. 
Who  but  a  pitiless  Scythian  would  have  dared 
Dictate  an  order  of  such  frightful  horror 
And  give  a  signal  through  the  startled  world 
To  fill  the  globe  with  murders? 

Who  but  he? 
Under  your  name,  most  just  of  Emperors, 
This  faithless  stranger  desolates  your  coun- 
try; 
Even  in  this  palace  will  his  bloody  rage 


88  ESTHER 

Spill  your  good  subjects'  blood. 

What  have  the  Jews  done  to  provoke  his 

hate? 
What  civil  quarrel  have  we  helped  to  spread? 
When  have  the  Jews  marched  with  your 

enemies? 
Were  ever  slaves  more  passive  to  the  yoke, 
Worshipping  in  their  chains  the  God  Who 

gives  them. 
Lord,  while  your  hand  lay  heaviest  upon 

them, 
They  prayed  their  God  to  be  a  guard  to  you, 
To  break  the  plots  the  wicked  made  against 

you 
And  take  your  throne  in  the  shadow  of  His 

wings. 
And  doubt  not.  Lord,  God  was  your  help  and 

stay, 
Beat  down  the  Parthians  and  the  Indians  for 

you. 


ESTHER  89 

Scattered  before  you  all  the  Scythian  hordes 
And  to  the  eyes  of  one  poor  Jew  discovered 
The  plans  of  men  who  plotted  to  destroy 

you. 
I  am  that  same  poor  Jew's  adopted  daughter. 


Ahasuerus. 
Mordecai? 


Esther. 
He  was  the  sole  survivor  of  our  household. 
My  father  was  his  brother.    He,  like  me, 
Is  in  direct  descent  from  our  first  King. 
Full  of  just  horror  for  an  Amalekite, 
A  race  accursed  by  the  lips  of  God, 
He  would  not  bow  the  knee  to  Haman  here, 
Nor  give  him  honours  only  due  to  you. 
From  this,  my  Lord,   hidden  under  other 

names, 
Proceeds  his  hatred  against  all  the  Jews. 
In  vain  you  gave  rewards  to  Mordecai, 


90  ESTHER 

Already  at  the  very  door  of  Haman 
Behold  the  gallows  Haman  has  prepared ! 
Within  this  hour,  that  reverend  old  man, 
Dragged  from  your  palace  precincts  by  his 

order, 
Dressed  in  your  kingly  purple,  will  be  hanged. 

Ahasuerus. 
What  light,  what  horror  burst  upon  my  soul! 

{Rising.) 
My  blood  is  all  aflame  with  shame  and  rage. 
I  was  his  plaything,  then!    Heaven  lighten 

me! 
One  moment — let  me  think. 
Call  Mordecai.    I  will  hear  his  statement. 

{Exit  Ahasuerus.) 

Haman. 

{To  Esther.) 

Queen,  I  am  stricken  with  amazement  here. 
I  am  deceived;  nay,  I  have  been  betrayed 


ESTHER  91 

By  those  that  hate  the  Jews,  heaven  be  my 

witness. 
By  slaying  them  I  thought  to  save  yourself, 
Use  all  my  credit,  Queen,  on  their  behalf. 
You  see  the  King  is  staggered  by  the  news. 
I  know  how  one  can  press  or  check  the  King; 
I  make  him  calm  or  raging  as  I  please. 
The  interests  of  the  Jews  are  sacred  to  me. 
Speak,  Queen,  I  swear  and  your  dead  enemies 
Shall  make  amends  if  I  have  injured  you. 
Whom  would  you  have  destroyed? 

Esther. 

Go,  traitor!  leave  me. 
Jews  expect  nothing  from  a  wretch  like  you. 
0  miserable  man !    Avenging  God, 
Ready  to  judge  you,  holds  His  balance  up. 
Soon  shall  just  sentence  be  pronounced  on 

you. 
Tremble!     God's  reign  approaches,  thine  is 
over. 


92  ESTHER 

Haman. 

Yes,  I  confess  thy  God  a  fearful  God; 
But  will  He  cherish  pitiless  hate  against  me? 
Ah !  it  is  done,  my  pride  is  forced  to  bend, 
Pitiless  Haman  is  reduced  to  prayer! 
(Flings  himself  at  Esther's  feet.    Esther 

moves  to  the  centre.) 
By  the  salvation  of  the  Jews,  0  Queen, 
And  by  these  queenly  feet  that  I  embrace, 
And  by  that  wise  old  man,  your  kingdom's 

honour. 
Deign  to  appease  the  rage  of  this  fierce  King; 
Save  Haman,  trembling  at  your  sacred  knees! 

(Enter  Ahasuerus.) 

Ahasuerus. 
This  traitor  dares  to  put  his  hands  upon  you! 

(Haman  up.) 
I  read  his  treachery  in  his  guilty  eyes, 
His  guilty  looks  confirm  what  you  have  said 


ESTHER  93 

And  show  me  all  the  course  of  his  attempt. 
Tear  the  dog's  spirit  out  this  very  instant 
Before  his  door,  instead  of  Mordecai, 
And  let  his  death  appease  the  earth  and  skies. 
Then  let  his  body  be  a  public  show. 

(Haman  led  away  by  Guards.) 

(Enter  Mordecai  in  front.) 

Man  loved  of  Heaven,  my  safety  and  my  joy, 

Thy   King   is   no   more   governed   by   the 

wicked ; 
My  eyes  have  seen  the  truth.    Crime  is  con- 
founded. 
Come,  shine  beside  me, 
(Mordecai  is  led  to  the  Queen's  seat,  right 
of  Ahasuerus.) 

Ranked  as  is  your  due. 
Prince  of  my  realm  and  chiefest  Counsellor. 
I  have  been  blind ;  but  now,  no  longer  blind, 
I  put  my  trust  in  one  whom  age  makes  wise, 
And  wisdom  merciful,  and  mercy  blessed. 


94  ESTHER 

By  God's  great  sun  your  lightest  word  this 

day 
Shall  be  a  law  to  Persia  for  all  time. 

MORDECAI. 

0  King,  whom  Heaven  ever  keep  in  care, 
The  peril  presses  on  the  Jews. 

Lord,  save  them! 
Ahasuerus. 
They  shall  be  saved.   Come,  take  these  orders 

out; 
Revoke  the  cruel  edict  of  that  man. 

(A  Guard  takes  orders.) 

Chorus. 
Bountiful  mercy  of  our  guardian  God, 
0  star  in  darkness,  0  white  light  of  dawn, 
After  the  night;  0  blessed  touch  of  rain, 
Changing  the  desert's  salty  sand  to  flowers; 
0  well  of  water  in  the  blinding  heat. 
When  even  the  asp  goes  mad;  0  shining  city 


ESTHER  95 

Seen  by  the  footsore  after  hours  of  travel; 
0  land,  that  far  away,  beyond  wild  water, 
Gleams  out  at  evening;  0  port  of  peace 
After  the  sea;  we  thank  Thee  for  this  mercy. 

1st  Chorus. 
Once,  when  of  old  the  King  of  Egypt  fol- 
lowed. 
With  hosts  of  horse,  our  fathers  as  they  fled, 
God  made  the  sea  a  road  for  us  to  tread, 
Made  the  rock  give  us  drink,  the  desert 

bread, 
But  smote  our  foes.    His  sea  rose,  they  were 
swallowed. 

2nd  Chorus. 
And  as  our  fathers  wandered  then 
God  guided  them  to  their  desire 
By  a  bright  angel  in  the  hearts  of  men, 
And  in  the  day  by  cloud  and  in  the  night 
by  fire. 


96  ESTHER 

Until  they  reached  the  green  land  full  of 

springs. 
The  comland  that  men  reap  but  need  not 
plough, 
The  happy  hill; 
All  the  way  there  God  hid  them  in  His  wings, 
Even  as  He  hides  us  now,  and  ever  will, 
And  ever  will! 

1st  Chorus. 
Though  men  deal  proudly,  God  is  over  them. 

{A  crying  without.) 

Ahasuerus. 
What  is  the  noise  of  tumult  in  the  street? 

Chorus. 
Sounds  as  of  slaying  and  of  lamentation. 

Esther. 
0  King,  I  dread  that  crying  in  the  city! 
It  must  be  that  your  orders  come  too  late 


ESTHER  97 

To  save  our  fellow-captives.     Swords  are 

flashing, 
And  there  are  screams  of  women,  and  men 

falling. 
Hark,  King,  they  kill  the  Jews! 

Chorus. 

0  Heaven,  save  them! 
Save  us,  0  Heaven! 

Ahasuerus. 

By  the  fires  of  Bel 
I  am  too  late! 

{Enter  Asaph,  Lejt.) 
What  is  it,  Asaph?    Speak! 

Asaph. 
0  King,  my  spirit  faints,  I  cannot  speak. 

Ahasuerus. 
Is  murder  being  done  without  there? 


98  ESTHER 

Asaph. 

Ye8. 

Or  no,  not  murder,  but  a  red  accounting, 

A  settling  for  old  sin.    Unseen  by  us, 

Unseen  in  the  air  about  us,  our  bad  deeds 

Grow  into  devils,  who  in  our  happy  time, 

When  it  is  sunshine  with  us,  startle  out 

And  take  us  by  the  throat  and  shatter  us. 

Ahasuerus. 

Are  you  so  taken  by  the  throat?  You  shudder 

Like  one  with  the  fever,  and  your  lips  are 

white. 

Asaph. 

0  King,  I  shudder  at  the  risk  you  ran. 

Ahasuerus. 
The  Queen  ran  risk,  not  I,>       ^ 

Asaph. 

•No.    Hark,  my  Lord. 
When  you  did  bid  us  take  that  traitor  hence, 


ESTHER  99 

We  dragged  him  out,  and  down  the  corridor 
Past  the  bronze  doorways  of  Prince  Memu- 

can. 
There,  with  full  voice,  he  shouted :  "Memu- 

can. 
Meres,  Adathan,  help  me!    Call  our  friends! 
AU  is  discovered !    Save  me!    Kill  the  King! 
Rush  in  and  kill  him !    Save  me !  Memucan, 
You  swore  to  kill  him.    I  am  to  be  killed. 
Memucan's  men,  come,  save  me!    Kill  these 

dogs, 
And  kill  the  King!    You  shall  have  all  my 

wealth, 
My  silver  mines,  my  palaces,  all,  all, 
And  be  my  princes." 

But  he  called  in  vain. 

Prince  Memucan  was  gone,  with  all  his  men. 

Gone  over  sea  this  morning  at  your  bidding. 

He  called  to  empty  courts  where  doves  picked 

,    food        j^ 


100  ESTHER 

And  the  pale   fountain   trembled   like  an 

aspen. 
Then,  seeing  that  none  answered,  he  was 

stilled. 
A  shuddering  took  him,  and  he  called  for 

drink. 
And  prayed  that  he  might  be  brought  back 

to  you, 
To  tell  you  all  the  plot  of  Memucan, 
That  you  might  spare  his  life. 
I,  having  my  orders,  told  him  he  must  die. 
By  this  time  we  had  reached  his  palace  gate 
And  stood  beneath  the  gallows  he  had  built. 
There,  where  he  planned  to  murder  Mordecai, 
Men  put  a  rope  about  his  own  doomed  neck. 
Then  he  besought  a.grace,  he  asked  the  time. 
We  told  him,  "Almost  the  fifth  hour;"  and  he 
Smiled  haggardly  and  said,  "Astrologers 
Foretold  that  on  this  day  at  the  fifth  hour 
A  great  event  would  alter  life  for  me. 


ESTHER  101 

Wait  till  the  hour,  one  little  minute's  peace, 
While  I  pray  God." 

We  waited,  while  he  prayed. 
And  the  square  filled  with  silent  men  and 

women. 
His  victims,  now  avenged. 
They  were  as  silent  as  a  forest  is 
In  the  great  heat  before  a  thunderstorm, 
Before  the  first  few  drops  strike  the  parched 

leaves. 
But  one  mad  woman,  who  had  lost  her  son, 
Babbled,    "He    will    escape,    for    all    their 

power!" 
It  wanted  but  a  minute  of  the  hour 
Of  Fifth  Hour  Sacrifice.    The  ankle  bells 
Tinkled  as  women  passed;   the  old  priests 

shufiled, 
Lighting  the  incense  in  the  temple  braziers, 
And  acolytes  in  red  came  to  the  gates. 
0  King,  I  shudder  at  that  ruffian's  guile. 


102  ESTHER 

Even  as  the  trumpet  of  the  hour  sounded, 

There  came  the  clink  of  arms,  and  swords- 
men came 

(A  band  of  swordsmen,  Prince  Adathan's 
men) 

Up  from  the  water  gateway  to  the  square. 

Then  Haman  shouted,  "Help,  Adathan's 
men! 

Adathan,  help!    See!    I  am  Haman  here. 

Charge!  Set  upon  these  guards  and  set  me 
free." 

Then  with  a  cheer  those  swordsmen  charged 
the  gallows 

And  bore  us  back,  and  snatched  him  from  our 
hands. 

But  at  that  word  of  setting  Haman  free 

Those  silent  watchers  there,  the  multi- 
tude, 

His  victims  from  of  old,  the  men  ground 
down, 


ESTHER  103 

The    women    bartered    and    the    children 

stunted, 
Screamed  all  together  in  a  venomous  hate, 
And  seizing  stones  and  sticks,  or  with  bare 

hands. 
They  set  upon  those  swordsmen  of  Adathan's 
And  routed  them;  so  we  recovered  Haman. 

And  Haman  bit  his  lips 
And  said :  "Those  were  the  swordsmen  I  had 

hired 
To  kill  the  Jews  indeed,  but  afterward 
To  kill  the  King  and  crown  me  King  instead. 
I  should  have  been  a  King  at  this  Fifth 

Hour. 
Only  have  mercy,  I  will  tell  you  all." 
Lord,  I  have  looked  on  fire  and  on  flood. 
Both  are  less  terrible  than  the  mob  in  rage. 
When  he  cried  "Mercy,"  all  that  sea  of  men 
Roared  like  a  battle,  rose  like  a  toppling  tide. 
Swept  over  him  and  choked  him  out  of  life. 


104  ESTHER 

The  Jews  are  saved:  Haman  is  dead.    The 
crowd 

Tore  him  piecemeal.    Now,  by  the  rope  that 
choked  him, 

They  drag  his  corpse  to  be  a  public  show. 

This  is  the  seal  of  office  that  he  held. 

{Gives  signet.) 
Ahasuerus. 

Prince  Mordecai,  take  this  seal  of  office. 

I  give  you  Haman's  property  and  power; 

Possess  in  justice  his  ill-gotten  wealth. 

I  break  the  fatal  slavery  of  the  Jews. 

All  who  elect  to  stay  in  Persia  here 

Are  henceforth  equal  with  my  Persian  sub- 
jects; 

All  who  would  fain  go  home,  are  free  to  go. 

And,  so  that  men  may  tremble  at  the  Name 

Of  Esther's  God,  I  will  rebuild  His  Temple, 

Using  sweet  cedar  where  the  Jews  put  oak. 

Marble  instead  of  stone,  and  gold  for  brass. 


ESTHER  105 

And  may  the  Jews  in  all  their  solemn  feasts 
Keep  this  day's  triumph  holy,  and  my  name 
Forever  living  in  their  memory. 

Esther. 
0  God,  by  roads  unknown  to  mortal  men 
Thy  wisdom  brings  eternal  plans  to  be! 

Chorus. 
Even  but  now  our  enemies  beset  our  feet  to 

ruin  us; 
But  in  the  darkness  of  our  doom  there  rose  a 

star  to  lighten  us! 

The  proud  man  planned  to  shed  our  blood; 

his  voice  went  ringing  to  the  sky ; 
His  sin  has  turned  upon  himself;  his  bloody 

thoughts  have  made  him  die. 

Now  like  a  cedar  that  the  storm  uproots  on 

windy  Lebanon, 
He  lies  on  earth :  I  passed  his  haunt,  but  God 
,     had  blown  and  he  was  gone. 


106  ESTHER 

(Here  the  King  and  Esther  move  off  Right.) 
( The  Chorus  come  slowly  down  stage  speak- 
ing, and  pass  off  in  front.) 

Esther  has  saved  us:  we  are  raised  out  of  the 

dust:  we  are  set  free; 
We  may  go  home  to  Zion's  hill,  forgetting  all 

our  slavery. 

We  may  rebuild  the  sacred  town  and  tread 

the  dear  green  fields  again; 
We  are  set  free  to  love  and  live,  forgetting 

all  these  years  of  pain. 

Let  us  give  thanks  that  pride  has  fall'n.    The 

evils  that  the  wicked  shape 
Come  by  one  road,  but  God  has  made  a 

myriad  pathways  of  escape. 

(They  leave  the  stage  here.) 
And  when  the  evil  presses  worst,  seeming  to 
triumph  over  good, 


ESTHER  107 

There  comes,  as  here,  the  thing  that  saves, 
by  secret  ways  not  understood. 

(They  pass  away.) 

Curtain. 


BERENICE 


A  Tragedy  by 
RACINE. 


PERSONS 


Titus 

Berenice 

Antiochus 

Paulinus 

Arsaces 

Phenice 

rutilius 


BERENICE 


ACT   I. 

Antiochus. 
Let  us  stay  here  a  moment.    I  can  see 
That  all  this  stately  palace  is  unknown 
To  you,  Arsaces. 

This  lonely  room  is  where  the  Emperor  comes 
To  find  some  quiet  from  the  cares  of  Court. 
Here  sometimes,  too,  he  comes  to  see  the 

Queen : 
The  Queen's  apartments  lie  beyond  that  door. 
And  now,  Arsaces,  go  to  see  the  Queen, 
And  tell  her  that  I  beg  that  she  will  grant 
What  I  dare  ask,  some  secret  words  with  me. 
Say  I  regret  to  be  importunate. 

Arsaces. 

You,  Lord,  importunate?    You,  her  faithful 

friend ; 

111 


112  BERENICE 

You,  generously  careful  of  her  interests; 
You,  that  Antiochus  who  loved  her  once, 
One  of  the  greatest  Kings  in  all  the  East! 
Even  if  she  be  about  to  marry  Titus, 
Does  that  put  such  a  distance  'twixt  you  two? 

Antiochus. 
No.    Go,  my  friend.    Mind  not  those  other 

matters; 
See  if  I  may  but  speak  with  her  alone. 

{Exit  Arsaces.) 
Alas,  Antiochus!    Can  I  ever  dare 
To  tell  the   Queen  I  love  her?     Why,   I 

tremble 
Already,  and  my  agitated  heart 
Now  fears  the  moment  it  so  much  desired. 
Queen  Berenice  has  left  me  without  hope; 
She  ordered  me  never  to  speak  of  love. 
Five  years  I  have  been  silent,  five  long  years. 
Hiding  my  love  under  a  veil  of  friendship. 
And  now  to-day  I  have  to  speak  with  her. 


BERENICE  113 

Titus,  they  say,  is  marrying  her  to-day. 

But  can  I  think  that  she  whom  Titus  plans 

To  make  his  Empress,  will  be  kind  to  me 

More  than  she  was  of  old  in  Palestine? 

Titus  is  marrying  her,  and  at  the  altar 

I  come  to  tell  her  that  I  love  her  too. 

What  good  can  come  to  me  from  telling  her? 

Ah !    I  must  go  and  not  displease  her  thus. 

I  will  withdraw,  and  go,  and  without  speak- 
ing 

Pass  far  away  from  her — forget  her — die. 

(Pause.) 

I  cannot  always  suffer  from  such  torment, 

Nor  shed  these  secret  tears  unknown  to  her 

And  lose  her,  through  the  fearing  her  dis- 
pleasure. 

Oh,  lovely  Queen,  and  why  should  you  be 
vexed? 

I  do  not  come  to  beg  you  not  to  marry; 

I  do  not  come  to  beg  that  you  should  love  me. 


114  BERENICE 

Ah!  woe  is  me!    I  only  come  to  say- 
That  now,  even  now, 
After  so  long  being  certain  that  my  rival 
Would  find  some  fatal  drawback  to  his  mar- 
riage, 
I  find  that  I  was  wrong;  that  all  can  be, 
And  that  your  marriage  now  is  being  pre- 
pared. 
Oh,  sad  example  of  long  constancy! 
After  five  years  of  love  and  empty  hope 
I  am  still  faithful,  though  I  hope  no  longer. 
She  could  not  blame  me,  she  will  pity  me. 
Whatever  happens  I  will  speak  to  her. 
Alas!  what  can  a  hopeless  lover  fear. 
Having  resolved  to  see  her  face  no  more? 

{Enter  Arsaces.) 
Can  I  go  in,  Arsaces? 

Arsaces. 
Lord,  I  have  seen  the  Queen — 
I  only  pierced  the  crowd  with  difliculty;. 


BERENICE  115 

She  is  surrounded  with  adoring  people 

Drawn  to  her  palace  by  her  coming  greatness, 

Titus  has  ceased  his  mourning  for  his  father 

And  takes  to  wooing,  and  the  rumour  goes 

That  before  night  the  happy  Berenice 

Will  change  the  title  "Queen"  for  that  of 

"Empress." 

Antiochus. 
Alas! 

Arsaces. 
But  how  can  such  news  trouble  you? 

Antiochus. 
So,  then,  I  cannot  speak  alone  with  her? 

Arsaces. 
Lord,  you  will  see  her.  She  has  been  informed 
That  you  would  see  her  here  at  once  alone. 
She  granted  your  desire  with  a  look, 
And  doubtless  waits  a  favourable  moment 
To  escape  the  crowds  of  courtiers  that  sur- 
round her. 


116  BERENICE 

Antiochus. 
Enough.      And    those    important    orders 

given — 
Have  you  fulfilled  them? 

Arsaces. 
Lord,  you  know  my  zeal. 
There  are  some  ships  prepared  in  Ostia  har- 
bour 
Ready  to  sail  the  instant  you  command ; 
But  whom  do  you  intend  to  send  in  them? 

Antiochus. 
One  can  but  go  when  I  have  seen  the  Queen. 

Arsaces. 
Who  can  but  go? 

Antiochus. 
Myself. 

Arsaces. 

You,  King  Antiochus? 


BERENICE  117 

Antiochus. 
Yes,  when  I  leave  this  palace, 
I  shall  leave  Rome,  Arsaces,  and  for  ever. 

Arsaces. 
I  am  surprised,  and  justly.  What,  great  King, 
After  Queen  Berenice  has  kept  you  here 
For  three  long  years,  far  from  your  State,  in 

Rome; 
Now,  when  she  needs  your  presence  at  her 

marriage, 
When  her  great  lover,  Titus,  marrying  her, 
Prepares  such  glory  for  her! 

Antiochus. 
Arsaces,  leave  this  talk,  it  troubles  me: 
Let  her  enjoy  her  fortune. 

Arsaces. 

Ah,  my  Lord, 

Her  coming  glory  makes  the  Queen  forget 

you. 

And  enmity  succeeds  friendship  betrayed? 


118  BERENICE 

Antiochus. 
Not  so.    I  never  hated  the  Queen  less. 

Arsaces. 
What  then?    Has  the  new  Emperor  grown 

proud 
Since  his  accession,  and  been  cold  to  you? 
Does  any  feeling  of  his  change  of  mind 
Drive  you  to  go  from  Rome? 

Antiochus. 
Titus  has  never  seemed  the  colder  to  me. 
I  should  be  wrong  to  make  complaint. 

Arsaces. 

Why  go,  then? 

What  fancy  makes  you  your  own  enemy? 

Heaven  raises  to  the  throne  a  Prince  who 

loves  you, 

A  Prince  who  saw  you  in  the  war  seek  death 

Or  glory,  in  his  steps;  whose  princely  courage. 

Helped  by  yourself,  subdued  the  rebel  Jews. 


BERENICE  119 

The  Prince  remembers  well  the  famous  day 
Which  ended  the  long  siege.    Do  you  remem- 
ber? 
The  enemy  quiet  in  their  triple  rampart, 
Watching  unharmed  our  impotent  attacks, 
And  you  advancing  with  the  scaling  ladders. 
Carrying  death  among  them  up  the  walls? 
That  was  the  day,  the  day  you  were  near 

death, 
The  day  when  Titus  found  you  almost  dead, 
Bleeding  from  many  wounds,  and  kissed  you 

there 
As  the  most  gallant  man  in  the  forlorn. 
Now,  sir,  you  ought  to  wait  for  your  reward 
For  all  your  blood  shed  then.    If  you  must  go 
Back  to  your  kingdom,  go  not  unrewarded, 
Wait  till  Imperial  Caesar  sends  you  back 
Laden  with  honours  as  the  friend  of  Rome. 
Can  nothing  change  your  mind?    You  do  not 
answer. 


120  BERENICE 

Antiochus. 
What  would  you  have  me  say? 
I  want  one  moment's  speech  with  Berenice. 

Arsaces. 
Well,  Lord? 

Antiochus. 

Her  fate  will  settle  mine. 

Arsaces. 
And  how? 

Antiochus. 
I  wish  to  hear  her  speak  about  her 
marriage. 
If  she  admits  the  rumour  to  be  true, 
If  it  be  true  that  she  will  marry  Caesar, 
If  Titus  makes  her  Empress,  I  shall  go. 

Arsaces. 

What  makes  this  marriage  so  distasteful  to 

you? 

Antiochus. 

When  we  have  gone,  I'll  tell  you. 


BERENICE  121 

Arsaces. 
I  am  troubled. 

Antiochus. 

Here  is  the  Queen.  Good-bye;  do  as  I  baae. 

{Enter  Berenice  and  Phenice.) 

Berenice. 

At  last  I  can  escape  the  importunity 

Of  all  the  crowds  of  friends  whom  fortune 

makes  me. 
I  come  from  all  their  tedious  acclamation 
To  find  a  friend  who  speaks  out  of  his  heart; . 
And  I  have  been  impatient,  for  I  thought 
You  had  neglected  me. 
I  said  of  old  that  good  Antiochus 
Was  constant  in  his  loving  care  for  me; 
He  was  my  friend  in  good  or  evil  fortune; 
And  now  to-day,  when  the  gods  seem  to  give 

me 
Honours  which  I  would  gladly  share  with 

him, 


122  BERENICE 

This  same  Antiochus  hides  from  my  sight 
And  leaves  me  to  an  unknown  crowd  alone. 

Antiochus. 
Then  is  it  true,  this  that  the  rumour  says, 
That  marriage  is  to  end  the  long,  long  court- 
ship? 

Berenice. 

Lord,  these  last  days  have  been  most  sorrow- 
ful; 

For  this  long  mourning  that  the  Emperor 
kept, 

Had  kept  him  from  me,  and  his  love  seemed 
changed 

From  those  old  days  when  he  was  always 
with  me. 

Now  he  is  silent,  troubled,  ever  weeping. 

His  only  speeches  seem  like  sad  farewells; 

So  you  can  judge  of  my  anxiety. 

Antiochus. 
Now  his  first  tenderness  has  come  again? 


BERENICE  123 

Berenice. 
You  saw  last  night  how  his  religious  cares 
Were  backed  by  solemn  vote,  when  in  full 

house 
The  Senate  ranked  his  Father  with  the  gods? 
His  pious  mourning  now  gives  place  to  love, 
To  thought  for  her  he  loves.    At  the  same 

time. 
Not  even  telling  me  of  his  intention. 
He  called  the  Senate,  and  by  proud  decree 
Enlarged  the  frontiers  of  my  Palestine, 
Joining  to  it  Arabia  and  Syria. 
And  if  I  can  believe  the  voice  of  friends 
And  his  own  promises  so  often  given. 
He  means  to  crown  me  Queen  of  that  ex- 
panse, 
To  add  to  all  my  titles  that  of  Empress; 
And  he  is  coming  here  to  tell  me  this. 

Antiochus. 
And  I  come  here  to  say  good-bye  for  ever. 


124  BERENICE 

Berenice. 
What  are  you  saying?    Good-bye? 
And  your  face  changes. 

Antiochus. 
Madam,  I  have  to  go. 

Berenice. 
And  not  say  why? 

Antiochus. 
No ;  I  must  go  and  see  her  face  no  more. 

Berenice. 
Speak,  Lord!    What  is  the  mystery  of  your 
going? 

Antiochus. 
Then  listen  to  me  for  the  last,  last  time. 
Lady,  if  in  your  high  degree  of  glory 
You  ever  think  about  your  childhood's  home, 
You  may  remember  that  I  saw  you  there 
And  loved  you. 


BERENICE  125 

You  may  remember,  too,  how  once  your 

brother, 
Agrippa,  spoke  for  me,  and  it  may  be, 
Perhaps,  you  were  not  vexed  to  hear  I  loved 

you. 
Then,  to  my  sorrow,  Titus  came :  he  saw  you, 
He  pleased  you,  for  of  course  he  came  before 

you 
In  all  the  splendour  of  a  man  who  bears 
The  vengeances  of  Rome  in  his  two  hands, 
Making  Judaea  pale. 

I  think  that  I  was  one  of  those  first  con- 
quered ; 
And  then  it  came  to  pass  that  your  own  lips 
Told  me  to  speak  no  more  of  love  to  you. 
And  yet  I  hoped ;  a  long,  long  time  I  hoped. 
Following  like  your  shadow  in  the  palace. 
And  then  you  made  me  promise,  made  me 

swear 
Never  to  speak  again  of  love  to  you. 


126  BERENICE 

But  when  you  made  me  swear,  my  heart 

knew  well 
That  I  could  only  love  you  till  I  die. 

Berenice. 
You  must  not  say  this. 

Antiochus. 

It  is  five  years  since  I  said  anything; 
And  after  this  I  shall  be  silent  always. 
And  then  I  went  with  Titus  to  the  wars, 
Hoping  to  die,  or  hoping  at  the  least 
That  deeds  of  mine  might  make  you  hear  my 

name. 
And  we  were  at  the  war,  Titus  and  I; 
All  that  I  did  was  far  surpassed  by  him. 
I  came  behind  in  war,  even  as  in  love. 
Then,  when  the  war  and  the  long  .siege  were 

over, 
And  the  last  pale  and  bloody-featured  rebels 


BERENICE  127 

Came  from  their  burnt-out  ruins  and  their 

hunger, 
He  came  in  triumph  home,  and  you  with  him. 
I  stayed  behind,  and  went  from  place  to 

place, 
Where  you  had  been,  where  I  had  worshipped 

you; 
But  my  despair  drove  me  to  follow  you. 
And  Titus  welcomed  me  and  brought  me 

here. 
And   then   I   hoped — always   I   had    some 

hope — 
That  something  here  might  make  a  way  for 

me. 
But  now  my  fate's  fulfilled ;  your  glory  comes. 
There  will  be  plenty  here  to  pray  for  you. 
To  watch  your  glorious  crowning,  without 

me. 
I  could  not  bring  rejoicing,  only  tears. 
So  I  shall  go,  loving  you  more  than  ever. 


128  BERENICE 

Berenice. 
I  did  not  think  that  on  my  marriage  day 
Any  man's  son  would  dare  make  love  to  me. 
I  will  forget  all  that.    Ill  say  farewell. 
God  knows  that  in  the  honours  coming  to  me 
I  hoped  that  you  would  watch  my  happiness, 
Because,  like  all  the  world,  I  honoured  you, 
And  Titus  loved  you,  and  you  admired  Titus. 
You  are  like  Titus,  and  a  hundred  times 
I  have  been  pleased  to  see  your  likeness  to 

him. 

Antiochus. 
Yes,  that  is  why  I  go.    I  go  too  late. 
Would  I  had  gone  before,  and  spared  myself 
This  news  of  Titus  and  the  grief  it  causes, 
Then  I  should  not  have  heard  you  speak  his 

name 
Nor  known  your  love  for  him,  but  gone,  and 

seen 
No  more  your  eyes,  which  see  me  every  day 


BERENICE  129 

Yet  cannot  notice  me. 

Good-bye.     I  go.     My  heart's  too  full  to 

speak ; 

I  know  that  I  shall  love  you  till  I  die. 

Fear  not  that  I  shall  talk  of  my  misfortune, 

But  if  you  hear  that  I  am  dead,  then  think 

That  once  I  was  alive.  Good-bye.  Good-bye. 

{Exit.) 
Phenice. 

Oh,  how  I  pity  him!    Such  faithfulness 

Deserved  more  luck,  good  Lady.    Don't  you 

pity  him? 

Berenice. 
His  going  so 

Leaves  me,  I  grant  you,  with  a  troubled  mind. 

Phenice. 
I  would  have  kept  him  back. 

Berenice. 
I  keep  him  back? 

No ;  rather  would  I  lose  the  memory  of  him. 
Could  I  encourage  such  a  senseless  love? 


130  BERENICE 

Phenice. 
Titus  has  not  yet  spoken  out  his  mind. 
Rome  looks  upon  you  with  most  jealous  eyes, 
Lady,  the  rigour  of  the  Roman  laws 
Makes  me  afraid  for  you. 
Romans  can  marry  none  but  Roman  women. 
Rome  hates  all  royalty,  and  you  are  Queen. 

Berenice. 

Phenice,  the  time  for  terror  is  gone  by, 

And  Titus  loves  me.    He  is  all-powerful. 

If  he  but  speak,  the  Senate  will  salute  him 

And  crown  his  statues  with  the  flowering 
laurel. 

Have  you  not  seen  the  splendours  of  to- 
night? 

The  torches,  and  the  lamps  and  bonfires 
burning; 

The  Eagles  of  the  Army  standing  ranked ; 

The  crowd  of  Kings,  the  Consuls  and  the  Sen- 
ate, 


BERENICE  131 

All  lending  all  their  glory  to  my  lover. 
Purple  and  gold  and  laurels  for  his  victory, 
And  all  those  eyes  from  every  land  on  earth 
Staring  on  him  alone  with  greedy  looks, 
Watching  that  splendid  port,   that  gentle 

presence. 
Oh,  with  what  awe  and  with  what  gladness 

too. 
All  of  those  hearts  assure  him  of  their  faith ! 
Can  one  see  this  not  thinking  as  I  think. 
That  even  if  he  had  been  obscurely  bom, 
The  world  would  still  have  known  him  as  its 

King? 
Now,  while  all  Rome  is  making  prayer  for 

Titus, 
And  offers  sacrifice  for  the  new  reign. 
Let  us  too  go  and  offer  prayer  for  him. 
Then  I  will  go  to  him,  and  we  shall  speak 
All  that  our  full  hearts  hold  for  one  another. 

CUKTAIN. 


ACT  II. 

(Titus,  Paulinus.) 

Titus. 
Has  no  one  seen  the  King  of  Comagena, 
Or  does  he  know  that  I  await  him  here? 

Paulinus. 
Sir,  I  have  seen  the  Queen. 
The  King  of  Comagena  had  been  with  her, 
But  had  gone  out  shortly  before  I  came. 
I  have  left  word  to  warn  him  of  your  orders. 

Titus. 
Enough.    What  was  the  Queen  doing? 

Paulinus. 
Sir,  she  was  going  out 
To  pray  the  gods  for  your  prosperity. 

Titus. 
Too  kind  Princess  alas! 

132 


BERENICE  133 

Paulinus. 

Prince,  why  be  sad  for  her? 

Half  of  the  Eastern  world  will  now  be  hers. 

You  pity  her? 

Titus. 

Paulinus,  let  all  leave  you  here  with  me. 

{Exit  Guards.) 

Alas!  Rome  is  uncertain  of  my  plans 

And  waits  to  know  the  fortunes  of  the  Queen. 

The  secrets  of  her  heart  and  mine,  Paulinus, 

Are  now  the  talk  of  all  the  earthly  world. 

Now  the  time  comes,  I  must  explain  myself. 

What  do  they  say  about  the  Queen  and  me? 

Speak;  what  do  you  hear? 

Paulinus. 
I  hear  on  every  side 
About  your  virtue,  Emperor,  and  her  beauty. 

Titus. 
What  do  they  say  about  my  love  for  her? 
What  do  they  expect  from  it? 


134  BERENICE 

Paulinus. 

You  can  do  what  you  please — love — cease  to 
love; 

The  Court  will  think  as  you  and  take  your 
part. 

Titus. 

Yes,  I  have  seen  that  Court,  and  close  at 
hand, 
That  Court  too  careful  to  applaud  its  Mas- 
ter; 

I've  seen  that  Court' approve  the  crimes  of 
Nero, 

Go  on  their  knees  to  him,  and  consecrate 
him. 

Idolatrous  courtiers  shall  not  be  my  judge; 

I  will  not  lend  my  ear  to  flatterers. 

I  wish  to  know,  from  you,  what  people  say. 

You  promise  this.    Respect  and  fear  for  me 

Keep  all  complaints*  from  coming  to  my  ears. 

Now,  dear  Paulinus,  let  me  see  and  hear; 


BERENICE  135 

Be  you  my  ears  and  eyes,  interpret  for  me 
The  varying  hearts  of  all  my  countrymen ; 
Let  your  sincerity  bring  truth  to  me 
Across  all  lies,  beyond  all  flattery. 
Now  speak !    What  ought  Queen  Berenice  to 

hope? 
Will  Rome  be  cruel  or  indulgent  to  her? 
Will  Rome  be  angry  if  so  fair  a  Queen 
Be  raised  as  Empress  to  the  throne  of  Caesar? 

Paulinus. 
Lord,  there  can  be  no  doubt,  whate'er  the 

cause, 
Be  it  reason  or  caprice,  Rome  does  not  want 

her 
To   be   the   Empress  here.     They   say,   of 

course, 
That  she  is  good  and  beautiful,  and  seems 
Made  to  be  Empress  over  human  beings; 
They  say  she  has  a  truly  Roman  heart. 
And  has  a  thousand  virtues;  but,  my  Lord, 


136  BERENICE 

You  know  the  rest.    Rome,  by  unchanging 

law, 
Will  have  no  foreign  blood  mixed  with  her 

blood, 
Will  recognize  no  children  bom  of  marriage 
Made  against  Roman  custom,  Roman  law. 
Besides,  you  know,  in  banishing  her  Kings 
Rome  took  a  hatred  to  the  name  of  King. 
Though   Rome  is  faithful  to   the  race  of 

Csesars, 
That  hate  of  Kings  and  Queens  is  furious 

stm. 

For  Julius  Caesar  longed  for  Cleopatra, 
But  dared  not  marry  her.    She  was  a  Queen. 
Mark  Antony,  who  made  an  idol  of  her. 
Dared  never  marry  her.     And   since   that 

time 
Caligula  and  Nero,  monstrous  men. 
Who  stamped  beneath  their  feet  the  laws  of 

Rome, 


BERENICE  137 

Still  feared  that  law,  and  did  not  dare  to 

make 
Marriages  hateful  to  the  Roman  heart. 
You  have  commanded  me  to  be  sincere — 
Well,  in  the  East,  a  slave,  whom  you  set  free, 
A  man  still  half  a  slave,  a  branded  man, 
Marked  with  hot  irons,  Lord,  the  freed  man 

Pallas, 
Married  two  Queens  of  Berenice's  blood; 
And  do  you  think  that  you  could  marry  her 
Without  outraging  Rome  while  men  know 

that? 
You,  marry  her,  while  three  days'  sail  from 

Rome 
A  branded  slave,  freed  from  our  fetters  lately. 
Marries  her  relatives! 

That  is  what  Romans  think  about  your  love. 
It  may  well  be  that  ere  this  evening  comes 
The  Imperial  Senate's  self  will  come  to  you, 
To  tell  you  all  that  I  have  told  you  now. 


138  BERENICE 

To  say  that  Rome  falls  at  your  very  feet 
And  asks  that  you  should  make  another 

choice 
More  worthy  her  and  you. 
You  might  be  thinking  of  your  answer,  Lord. 

Titus. 
Alas!  they  ask  me  to  give  up  myself. 

Paulinxjs. 
It  is  a  bitter  struggle,  I  confess. 

Titus. 
Bitterer  a  thousand   times  than  you  can 

think. 
It  has  been  very  life  to  see  her  here. 
Each  day  to  see  her,  love  her,  and  to  please 

her. 
I  have  a  hundred  times  given  thanks  to  God 
For  bringing  all  the  East  beneath  my  Father 
And  putting  bleeding  Rome  into  his  hands. 
I  have  desired  my  dead  Father's  place. 


BERENICE  139 

Much  as  I  loved  him, 

In  hope  of  making  Berenice  Empress. 

And  now,  Paulinus,  when  the  time  has  come, 

In  spite  of  all  my  love  and  all  her  beauty, 

In  spite  of  all  my  lover's  oaths  and  tears, 

Now  that  I  have  Imperial  power  to  crown 

her. 
Now  that  I  love  her  deeper  than  before, 
Now  that  a  happy  marriage  might  unite  us 
After  five  years  of  prayers  and  hopes  and 

love, 
After  all  these,  Paulinus — Oh,  ye  gods! 

Paulinus. 
What  is  it,  Lord? 

Titus. 

I  part  from  her  for  ever. 
If  I  have  made  you  speak  to  me  to-day. 
It  was  because  I  wished  that  your  great 
friendship 


140  BERENICE 

Should  help  to  kill  my  love  which  dies  most 

hard. 
Believe  me,  it  is  hard  to  conquer  love; 
My  heart  will  bleed  for  more  than  one  day 

yet. 
My  love  was  peace  in  those  first  days  of  love, 
When  still  my  Father  was  the  Emperor, 
I  was  the  master  of  my  fate  and  free, 
Accounting  to  myself  for  my  desires; 
But  when  the  gods  recalled  my  Father  to 

them, 
My  pleasant  error  was  removed  from  me; 
I  felt  the  heavy  load  imposed  upon  me; 
I  knew  that  presently  I  should  be  forced 
To  give  up  self  and  all  the  loves  of  self, 
And  do  the  Will  of  God  and  not  my  own, 
And  give  my  life  to  work,  not  to  myself. 
And  now,  to-day,  Rome  watches  what  I  do. 
Shameful  to  me  and  ominous  to  her 
If  my  first  act  should  scatter  every  custom 


BERENICE  141 

And  build  my  happiness  on  broken  law. 

I  have  resolved  to  make  this  sacrifice; 

But  how  prepare  Queen  Berenice  for  it? 

How  can  a  man  begin? 

These  last  eight  days  full  twenty  times  I've 
tried 

To  tell  her  this, 

But  at  the  first  word  my  poor  stumbling 
tongue 

Seemed  frozen  in  my  mouth,  I  could  not 
speak. 

I  hoped  my  sorrow  and  anxiety 

Might  make  her  feel  our  common  misery; 

But  she  has  not  suspected  and  knows  noth- 
ing. 

Now  I  have  gathered  all  my  constancy. 

Now  I  must  see  her  and  must  tell  her  all. 

Now  I  am  waiting  for  Antiochus: 

I  shall  give  him  the  prize  I  cannot  keep, 
'  And  bid  him  take  her  back  into  the  East. 


142  BERENICE 

He  will  leave  Rome  to-morrow  with  the 

Queen, 
And  I  shall  see  her  now  and  tell  her  this, 
I  shall  now  speak  to  her  for  the  last  time. 

Paulintjs. 

Lord,  I  expected  this  from  your  great  glory; 

I  knew  your  heart  would  not  destroy  its  work, 

That  you,  the  conqueror  of  so  many  nations, 

Would   conquer   all  your  passions   if  you 

willed. 

Titus. 

Glory  is  cruel  under  its  fine  names; 

My  sad  eyes  find  her  lovelier  than  glory. 

If  I  have  dared  the  death  in  seeking  glory. 

It  was  because  her  beauty  lit  in  me 

A  longing  for  all  lovely,  splendid  things. 

You  know  quite  well  I  did  not  always  have 

Renown  or  glory.    I'd  an  evil  name. 

My  youth  was  spent  within  the  Court  of 

Nero 


BERENICE  143 

And  followed  ways  I  love  not  to  recall. 
It  was  my  seeing  her  that  changed  my  life, 
And  to  please  her  I  loved,  I  did  strange  things 
And  came  back  triumphing.    But  blood  and 

tears 
Were  not  sufficient  to  win  love  from  her, 
So  then  I  undertook  to  help  the  wretched. 
I  was  more  happy  than  my  tongue  can  say 
When  she  was  pleased  with  work  that  I  had 

done. 
I  owe  her  everything,  and  as  reward, 
Reward  for  all  the  good  that  she  has  done  me, 
I  shall  say  "Go,  and  never  see  me  more." 

Paulinus. 

Sir,  do  you  fear  that  she  will  think  you 

faithless? 
The  very  Senate  is  surprised  to  think 
How   many  honours   you   have   given   the 

Queen. 


144  BERENICE 

You  have  given  her  magnificence  of  power, 
Up  to  Euphrates  you  have  made  her  Queen 
Over  a  hundred  peoples. 

Titus. 

But  petty  solace  for  a  grief  so  great. 
I  know  the  Queen ;  I  know  only  too  well 
That  she  has  asked  for  nothing  but  my  heart. 
I  loved  her,  she  loved  me;  and  since  that 

day— 
I  cannot  say  if  it  were  glad  or  sorry  — 
Her  life  has  had  no  object  but  her  love. 
Unknown  at  Court,  a  stranger  here  in  Rome, 
She  passes  all  her  days  with  no  more  thought 
Save  that  she  see  me  some  time,  and  the  rest 
Expect  to  see  me. 

And  if,  as  sometimes  happens,  I  am  late, 
I  find  her  weeping. 

All  that  there  is  most  powerful  in  lovt 
Joy,  beauty,  glory,  virtue,  are  in  her. 


BERENICE  145 

For  five  long  years  each  day  that  I  have  seen 

her 
Has  given  me  the  joy  the  first  sight  had. 
Let's  think  no  more,  because  the  more  I 

think, 
The  more  my  made  up  mind  shakes  in  its 

purpose. 
Once  more,  once  more,  one  must  not  think 

about  it. 
I  know  my  duty  and  must  follow  it. 
Whether  I  live  or  die  is  no  great  matter. 

{Enter  Rutilius.) 

RUTILIUS. 

My  lord,  Queen  Berenice  would  speak  with 

you. 

Titus. 

Paulinus — 

Paulinus. 

So,  Lord,  you  seem  all  ready  to  draw  back. 

Remember  all  your  noble  plans;  it's  time. 


146  BERENICE 

Titus. 
Well,  let  us  see  her.    Let  her  enter  there. 

{Enter  Berenice.) 
Berenice. 
Do  not  be  vexed  if  with  a  too  great  zeal 
I  break  the  secret  of  your  solitude. 
While  your  Court  rings  with  all  your  gifts 

to  me, 
Would  it  be  right  were  I  to  hold  my  peace? 
Your  mourning  time  is  past;  you  are  alone, 
And  none  can  hinder  you ;  and  yet,  my  Lord, 
You  do  not  come  to  see  me  as  of  old. 
I  hear  you  offer  me  another  crown. 
Yet  hear  it  not  from  you.    Give  me  more 

love, 
Give  me  less  glory,  Lord.     Can  your  love 

show 
Only  through  orders  of  the  Senate,  then? 
Ah,  Titus!   what  new  care  does  your  love 

bring  me? 


BERENICE  147 

Can  it  give  naught  but  princedoms?    Ah! 

Since  when 
Have  you  believed  that  greatness  touches 

me? 
A  look,  a  sigh,  a  word  out  of  your  mouth, 
Makes  the  ambition  of  a  heart  like  mine. 
See  me  more  often,  do  not  give  me  things. 
Are  all  your  moments  given  to  the  Empire? 
After  eight  days  have  you  no  word  to  say? 
Lord,  reassure  my  trouble  with  a  word. 
Did  you  then  speak  of  me  when  I  surprised 

you? 
Lord,  was  I  at  the  least  within  your  thought? 

Titus. 

Doubt  it  not.  Lady.    I  attest  the  gods 
That  you  are  ever  present  in  my  thought. 
I  swear  that  never  absence,  self,  nor  time. 
Can  tear  you  from  this  heart  that  worships 
you. 


148  BERENICE 

Berenice. 
You  swear  eternal  worship,  but  you  swear 
Most  coldly.     Why  bring  in   the  gods  to 

witness? 
Did  you  want  oaths  to  overcome  mistrust? 
My  heart  does  not  contain  mistrust  of  you ; 
I  should  believe  you  on  a  simple  sigh. 

Titus. 
Lady! 

Berenice. 
Well,  Lord?   But  what,  you  do  not  answer. 
You  turn  your  eyes  and  seem  confounded, 

Sire. 
Can  you  not  see  me,  save  with  looks  of  grief? 
Does  your  mind  always  mourn  your  Father's 

death? 
Can  nothing  charm  away  this  eating  care? 

Titus. 
Would  God  my  Father  lived  still, 
I'd  be  happy! 


BERENICE  149 

Berenice. 

Lord,  this  mourning 
Justly  proceeds  from  piety;  but  now 
You  have  paid  tribute  to  his  memory 
Enough ;  you  owe  now  other  cares  to  Rome. 
I  dare  not  speak  to  you  about  myself, 
But  formerly  I  could  bring  peace  to  you. 
And  you  have  listened  to  me  even  with  pleas- 
ure. 
You  mourn  a  father  still  (alas,  poor  grief!) 
While  I,  the  memory  makes  me  shudder  still : 
They  would  have  dragged  me  from  the  man 

I  love, 
Dragged  me,  whose  broken-heartedness  you 

know 
When  you  have  left  me  even  for  a  day. 
I  think  that  I  should  die  upon  the  day 
That  they  forbade  me  see  you. 

Titus. 
Lady,  alas!  what  do  you  say  to  me? 


150  BERENICE 

What  time  is  this  for  speech  ?   For  pity,  stop ! 
I  am  unworthy  and  your  goodness  kills  me. 

Bekenice. 
Unworthy,  Lord !    How  could  you  be? 
Does  what  you  call  my  goodness  weary  you? 

Titus. 
No,  Lady,  never.    But  since  I  must  speak, 
My  heart  seems  burning  in  a  living  fire. 

Berenice. 


Go  on. 

Alas! 

Titus. 

Berenice. 
Speak! 

Titus. 

Rome,  the  Empire — 

Berenice. 

WeU? 

Titus. 

We'U  go 

,  Paulinus — I  cannot  speak  to  her! 

{Exit  Titus  and  Paulinus.) 

BERENICE  151 

Berenice. 
What,  leave  me  thus  and  never  say  the  rea- 
son! 
What  fatal  thing  is  this?   What  have  I  done? 
What  does  he  want?    What  does  this  silence 

mean? 

Phenice. 

It  seems  more  strange  the  more  one  thinks 

on  it. 

Does  anything  come  to  your  memory 

That  might  have  prejudiced  him  against  you, 

Lady? 

Berenice. 

Believe  me,  dear. 
When  I  recall  the  memories  of  the  past. 
From  when  I  saw  him  first  to  this  sad  day, 
Loving  him  well  has  been  my  only  fault. 
Could  I  have  said  a  thing  that  has  displeased 

him? 
Have  I  with  too  much  warmth  returned  his 

gifts? 


152  BERENICE 

Or  blamed  his  depth  of  mourning  for  his 

Father? 
Or  is  it  that  he  fears  the  hate  of  Rome? 
He  fears,  perhaps;  he  fears  to  wed  a  Queen! 
Alas!  if  that  were  true, — but  no!  so  often 
He  has  declared  to  me  a  hundred  times 
His  love  is  stronger  than  their  cruel  laws — 
A  hundred   times.     He   must   explain   his 

silence. 
I  cannot  live  in  this  uncertainty; 
I  could  not  live,  thinking  that  I  had  hurt 

him, 
Or  that  he  did  not  care.    Wait,  let  me  think ! 
Now  that  I  think,  it  seems  explained  to  me. 
He  knows  the  love  of  King  Antiochus, 
Perhaps  that  vexes  him.    And  I  was  told 
That  he  expects  Antiochus  even  now. 
Let  us  not  seek  elsewhere  the  explanation ; 
Doubtless  the  trouble  that  alarms  him  so 
Is  but  a  light  suspicion  easily  killed. 


BERENICE  153 

Would  Heaven,  Titus,  that  a  rival  came, 
A  man  more  powerful  than  you,  to  tempt  me, 
To  put  more  Empires  at  my  feet  than  you, 
To  buy  my  love  with  sceptres  numberless. 
While  you  had  nothing  for  me  but  your 

love — 
Ah !  then,  dear  Titus,  you  would  see  the  price 
I  put  upon  my  heart.    But  come,  Phenice, 
Let  us  be  quiet,  for  he  loves  me  still, 
And  I  do  wrong  to  count  myself  unhappy. 
If  he  be  jealous,  'tis  a  sign  of  love. 

Curtain. 


ACT   III. 

(Titus,  Antiochus,  Arsaces.) 

Titus. 
So  you  are  going,  Prince?     What  sudden 

cause 
Presses  your  going?     (One  might  call  it 

flight.) 
You  hide  from  me  until  you  say  good-bye. 
Come,  do  you  leave  us  as  an  enemy? 
What  will  the  Court,  what  will  the  Empire 

say? 
Come!  as  your  friend,  have  you  a  grudge 

against  me? 
Have  I  neglected  you  in  all  this  crowd 
Of  Kings  and   Sovereigns  pressing  in   the 

Court? 
You  were  my  friend  during  my  Father's  life, 

154 


BERENICE  155 

Friendship  was  all  I  had  to  give  you  then. 
Now,  when  my  friendship  has  so  much  to 

give, 
You  fly  from  me. 

Come,  can  you  think  that  I  forget  old  friends 
And  think  about  my  greatness  more  than 

them, 

And  cast  them  off  as  things  of  no  more  use? 

Prince,  you  are  more  than  ever  noedful  to  me. 

Antiochus. 

I,  Lord? 

Titus. 

Yes,  you. 

Antiochus. 
Alas,  Sir,  what  can  you  expect  but  prayer 
From  an  unhappy  Prince? 

Titus. 
Prince,  I  remember  that  my  victory 
Owed  half  its  glory  to  your  gallant  deeds. 
Rome  has  seen  many  of  your  captives  pass. 


156  BERENICE 

And  in  the  Capitol  the  spoils  you  took 
Even  from  the  Jews. 
Now  I  expect  from  you  no  deeds  of  war, 
Only  your  voice.    I  know  that  Berenice 
Counts  you  her  one  true  friend  now  here  in 

Rome ; 
You,  only,  make  one  heart  and  soul  with  us. 
Now,  in  the  name  of  this  most  constant 

friendship 
I  bid  you  use  the  power  you  have  upon  her. 
See  her  on  my  behalf. 

Antiochus. 

I?    See  the  Queen? 
Sir,  I  have  said  farewell  to  her  for  ever. 

Titus. 
See  her  but  once  again  for  me,  Antiochus. 

Antiochus. 
Lord,  you  must  speak  to  her.    She  worships 
you. 


BERENICE  157 

Why  rob  yourself  of  such  a  charming  task? 
Sir,  she  is  waiting  for  you  with  impatience. 
I  answer,  Sir,  for  her  obedience. 
She  herself  told  me,  she  will  marry  you: 
You  need  but  see  her,  Sir,  for  she  is  won. 

Titus. 

Time  was,  so  sweet  a  speech  would  have 
seemed  sweet; 

I  should  have  been  most  happy.  Even  to- 
day 

I  thought  to  be  most  happy;  yet  to-day 

I  have  to  leave  her,  Prince. 

Antiochus. 
Leave  her?    You,  Lord? 

Titus. 

Such  is  my  destiny. 
This  is  no  marriage  day  for  her  and  Titus; 
I  pleased  myself  in  vain  with  that  sweet  hope. 


158  BERENICE 

Now,  Prince,  to-morrow  she  must  sail  with 

you. 

Antiochus. 

0  Heaven!  what  do  I  hear? 

Titus. 

Pity  my  greatness! 
Being  Master  of  the  world,  I  rule  her  for- 
tune; 

1  can  make  Kings  and  then  can  unmake 

them, 
And  yet  my  heart  is  not  my  own  to  give. 
Rome,  ever  bitter  against  Kings,  disdains 
An  Empress  born  in  the  purple  with  a  crown 
And  all  a  hundred  Kings  for  forefathers. 
My  heart   is   free   to   love   some   common 

woman, 
Rome  would  with  pleasure  see  me  marry  one. 
Even  the  most  worthless  in  the  city  bounds — 
Even  Julius  Caesar  bowed  to  this  decree. 
To-morrow,  if  she  still  be  here,  the  Romans 


BERENICE  159 

Will  come  in  fury  here  to  bid  her  go. 
Spare  her  this  insult.    Since  we  must  sur- 
render, 
Let  us  surrender  finely. 
My  eight  days'  silence  and  my  absence  from 

her 
Must  have  prepared  her  for  this  cruel  speech. 
Now  at  this  very  time  she  waits  for  me 
To  tell  her  of  the  trouble  of  my  heart. 
Now  spare  my  heart  the  pain  of  telling  her. 
Go  to  her  and  explain  my  misery : 
Above  all,  beg  that  I  may  keep  from  her. 
Be  the  one  witness  of  her  tears  and  mine. 
Take  to  her  my  farewells  and  bring  me  hers; 
But  let  us  both  avoid  that  deadly  meeting 
That  would  destroy  our  last  poor  constancy. 
And  if  the  hope  that  I  shall  always  love  her 
Can  make  the  bitterness  of  parting  less, 
Swear  to  her.  Prince,  I  shall  be  always  faith- 
'      ful 


160  BERENICE 

And  carry  to  my  grave  my  love  for  her. 

My  reign  will  be  a  long,  long  banishment 

If  Heaven,  not  content  with  taking  her. 

Pains  me  still  farther  with  a  long,  long  life. 

You,  who  are  only  linked  to  her  by  friend- 
ship, 

Do  not  abandon  her  in  her  distress. 

And  let  her  going  back  into  the  East 

Be  glorious  like  a  triumph,  not  a  flight. 

And  may  your  friendship  last;  and  let  my 
name 

Be  often  in  your  quiet  talks  together. 

Your  Kingdoms  shall  henceforward  touch 
each  other. 

And  the  Euphrates  be  your  boundary. 

The  Senate  will  confirm  this  by  a  vote. 

I  join  Cilicia  to  your  Comagena. 

Good-bye!  And  do  not  leave  my  lovely 
Queen. 

She  was  the  one  desire  of  my  heart. 


BERENICE  161 

The  one  thing  I  shall  love  till  my  last  breath. 

{Exit  Titus.) 

Arsaces. 
So  Heaven  does  justice  to  you !    You  will  go, 
But  she'll  go  with  you.    Heaven  does  not 

take  her, 
But  gives  her. 

Antiochus. 
Give  me  the  time  to  breathe! 
It  is  too  great  a  change  and  I  am  shaken : 
All  that  I  love  is  put  into  my  hands — 
Can  I  believe  what  I  have  heard  just  now? 
And  if  I  can  believe,  should  I  be  glad? 

Arsaces. 
But,  my  great  Lord,  what  can  I  think  of 

you? 
What  barrier  is  there  to  your  happiness? 
A  little  while  ago  you  came  from  here 
All  shaken  from  your  last  farewells  with  her, 


162  BERENICE 

Going,   because  her  marriage   broke  your 
heart. 

And  now  the  marriage  is  the  broken  thing, 

So  what  can  grieve  you  now?    Go  where  love 
calls  you. 

Antiochus. 

Arsaces,  I  am  charged  to  take  her  home. 

For  a  long  time  I  shall  be  close  to  her; 

It  may  be  that  in  time  her  heart  will  change 

And  think  my  perseverance  something  sweet. 

Titus  o'erwhelms  me  here  with  all  his  great- 
ness: 

No  one  can  be  compared  to  him  in  Rome; 

But  in  the  East  the  Queen  may  count  me 
something. 

Arsaces. 
Doubt  it  not.  Lord,  all  happens  as  you  wish. 

Antiochus. 
Ah!  how  we  glory  to  deceive  ourselves! 


BERENICE  163 

Arsaces. 
And  why,  "deceive  ourselves"? 

Antiochus. 

Ah !  I  might  please  her. 
Might  it  not  be  that  she  would  hear  my  love? 
Among  her  woe,  neglected  by  the  world, 
Might  she  not  turn  to  me  and  stoop  to  me 
For  help  that  she  would  know  my  love  would 
render? 

Arsaces. 

Who  could  console  her  better  than  yourself? 
Her  fortune  changes.    Titus  flings  her  ofl?. 

Antiochus. 

Alas,  for  that  great  change!     Now  I  shall 

know 
Even  from  her  tears  how  much  she  loves  him, 

friend. 
For  I  shall  see  her  weep,  and  pity  her. 


164  BERENICE 

The  only  fruit  of  love  that  I  shall  gather, 
Tears,  which  are  not  for  me. 

Arsaces. 
Why  do  you  thus  delight  to  wound  yourself? 
Did  ever  a  brave  heart  show  such  a  weak- 
ness? 
Open  your  eyes,  my  Lord,  and  bravely  think 
How  many  reasons  make  the  Queen  your 

own. 
Since  Titus  from  to-day  has  cast  her  off. 
Think  thus.    The  Queen  is  forced  to  marry 

you. 

Antiochus. 

Forced? 

Arsaces. 

Yes.     But  grant  her,  first,  some  days  for 

tears; 
Let  her  first  rush  of  sorrow  run  its  course. 
Then  all  will  speak  for  you;  her  hate,  her 

vengeance, 


BERENICE  165 

Absence  of  Titus,  presence  of  yourself, 
Time,  and  three  kingdoms  that  she  cannot 

rule — 
Your  kingdoms  side  by  side,  the  better  joined. 
Interest,  reason,  friendship,  all  things  bind 

you. 

Antiochus. 
I  breathe  again.    You  give  me  life,  Arsaces, 
It  is  a  happier  prospect.    Why  delay? 
Let  us  perform  what  we  are  bidden  do. 
We'll  find  the  Queen,  and,  since  the  Emperor 

bids, 
Tell  her  that  Titus  now  abandons  her. 
No;  stay!    What  am  I  doing?    Can  I  do  it? 
I  take  this  cruel  task?     My  heart  shrinks 

from  it. 
The  lovely  Berenice  to  hear  from  me 
That  she  is  cast  aside !    Unhappy  Queen ! 
Who  could  have  thought  that  this  would  be 

your  fate? 


166  BERENICE 

Arsaces, 
Her  anger  will  not  fall  on  you,  but  Titus. 
You  only  speak  at  his  request,  my  Lord. 

Antiochus. 
No,  we'll  not  see  her;  we'll  respect  her  grief. 
Plenty  will  come  to  tell  her  of  her  fall. 
Do  you  not  think  she  will  be  sad  enough 
To  learn  to  what  contempt  Titus  condemns 

her, 
Without  this  final  thrust,  to  have  the  news 
By  Titus'  only  rival?    Let  us  go. 
By  going  thus  we  shall  escape  her  hatred. 

Arsaces. 

Sir,  here  she  comes!    Think  what  to  do  and 

say. 

Antiochus. 
0  Heaven ! 

{Enter  Berenice.) 

Berenice. 

So,  Lord,  you  are  not  gone? 


BERENICE  167 

Antiochus. 
Lady,  I  see  you  looked  for  Caesar  here. 
Blame  only  Caesar  if  you  find  me  here 
In  spite  of  my  farewells. 
Perhaps  by  this  I  should  have  been  in  Ostia, 
Had  he  not  strictly  ordered  me  to  stay. 

Berenice. 
He  wanted  you  alone.    He  avoids  us. 

Antiochus. 
He  only  kept  me  here  to  speak  of  you. 

Berenice. 
Of  me,  Prince? 

Antiochus. 
Yes. 

Berenice. 
What  could  he  have  to  say? 

Antiochus. 
Thousands  of  other  men  could  tell  you  better 
Than  I. 


168  BERENICE 

Berenice. 
What  do  you  mean? 

Antiochus. 

0  be  not  vexed! 
Others  at  such  a  moment  might  not  keep 
Silence  so  well,  but  would  rejoice,  perhaps. 
Would  swell  with  pride  and  joy  to  break  the 

news; 
But  I,  still  trembling;  I,  as  you  know  well, 
Reckoning  your  quiet  dearer  than  my  own. 
Would  rather  vex  you  than  distress  you, 

Queen. 
I  fear  your  sorrow  more  than  your  annoyance. 
Before  to-night  you  will  acquit  me,  Queen. 
Lady,  good-bye. 

Berenice. 
But  what  strange  speech!    0  stay! 
O  Prince,  I  cannot  keep  my  grief  from  you. 
You  see  before  you  a  distressful  Queen, 


BERENICE  169 

Whose  heart  seems  killed,  who  only  asks  two 

words. 
I  think  you  said  you  feared  to  vex  my  quiet, 
And  therefore  will  not  speak. 
Lord,  if  my  peace  of  mind  be  precious  to  you, 
If  I  were  ever  precious  in  your  eyes, 
Lighten  the  darkness  that  is  on  my  soul. 
What  did  the  Emperor  say  to  you? 

Antiochus. 

0,  Lady, 
For  God's  sake! 

Berenice. 
Is  my  heart's  wish  so  little  to  you,  then? 
Antiochus. 
And  if  I  speak,  you  will  forever  hate  me. 

Berenice. 
I  beg  you  speak.    I  order  you  to  speak. 

Antiochus. 
0  gods! 

Lady,  once  more,  you'll  wish   I  had  not 

spoken. 


170  BERENICE 

Berenice. 
Prince,  either  calm  my  mind  by  speaking 

now, 
Or  be  assured  that  here  our  friendship  ends. 

Antiochus. 
Queen,  after  that,  I  cannot  remain  silent. 

So,  since  you  wish  it,  I  will  break  the  news. 

Have  no  illusions  now.    For  I  shall  tell  you 

Miseries,  perhaps,  of  which  you  dared  not 

think. 
I  know  your  very  heart.    Now  be  prepared, 
For  I  shall  strike  your  heart's  most  tender 

place. 
Titus  has  ordered  me.  .  .  . 

Berenice. 

What  has  he  ordered? 

Antiochus. 
To  say  to  you,  that  you  .  .  .  that  you  and 

he.  .  .  . 
That  you  and  he  must  separate,  forever. 


BERENICE  171 

Berenice. 
Separate?    What?    Who?     I  and  he,  you 
say? 

Antiochus. 
Lady,  let  be.    I  must  be  just  to  him. 
All  that  a  loving  and  a  generous  heart 
Could  hold  of  wild  despair  in  its  worst  mo- 
ment. 
Was  there  in  Titus'  heart.     He  wept.     He 

loves  you. 
But  little  serves  it  if  he  love  you  still : 
The  Roman  Empire  dreads  to  have  a  Queen, 
So  you  must  separate.    You  go  to-morrow. 

Berenice. 
Go !    Misery !     Phenice ! 

Phenice. 

Ah,  blessed  Lady, 
This  is  a  bitter  blow!    It  daunts  your  soul. 
Show  your  soul's  greatness. 


172  BERENICE 

Berenice. 
Titus  to  leave  me  after  all  his  vows, 
Titus,  who  swore  to  me !    I  cannot  think  it ! 
He  cannot  leave  me. 
Perhaps  they  turn  his  innocent  mind  against 

me. 
Some  trap  is  made  to  tear  us  from  each  other, 
For  Titus  loves  me,  he  does  not  wish  my 

death. 
Go  now  and  see  him,  I  would  speak  with  him. 
Go! 

Antiochus. 
And  you  could  look  at  me,  and  think  that 

I— 

Berenice. 
You  long  for  this  too  well  to  persuade  me. 
Know,  I  do  not  believe  you.     But  true  or 

false. 
Keep  you  forever  from  my  sight  henceforth. 
Do  not  you  leave  me,  Phenice,  I  am  faint. 


BERENICE  173 

Help  me,  good  Phenice,  put  your  arm  here — 
so. 

{Exeunt  Berenice  and  Phenice.) 

Antiochus. 

Do  I  deceive  myself?    I  heard  her  rightly? 

"Keep  me  forever  henceforth  from  her  sight!" 

I  think  I  shall,  for  should  I  not  have  gone 

Had  Titus  not  against  my  will  restrained  me? 

She  thought  to  hurt  me,  but  her  hate  has 

helped  me. 

You  saw  me  going  sick  with  hopeless  love, 

Jealous  and  in  despair  and  wild  of  head; 

And  now,  Arsaces,  after  this  dismissal 

Perhaps  I  may  set  out  with  resignation. 

Arsaces. 

No,  Lord;  that  less  than  ever.     You  must 

stay. 

Antiochus. 

I  stay?    To  see  myself  disdained! 

See  myself  punished  for  the  guilt  of  Titus! 


174  BERENICE 

With  what  m justice  and  indignity- 
She  doubted  of  my  truth. 
She  said  that  Titus  loved  her,  I  betrayed  her! 
Ungrateful  Queen,  to  reckon  me  a  traitor! 
At  such  a  time,  too ;  at  the  fatal  moment 
When  I  was  telling  of  my  rival's  sorrow. 
When  to  console  her  I  had  made  him  seem 
Loving  and  true,  more  than  he  is,  perhaps. 

Aksaces. 
Lord,  what  a  pain  you  take  to  grieve  yourself! 
Let  her  grief  go.    Let  its  first  anguish  pass. 
For  in  a  week  or  month  it  will  be  passed. 
Stay  till  it  passes. 

Antiochus. 

No,  I  go,  Arsaces. 
All  things  excite  me  to  be  gone  from  here. 
So  let  us  go.    And  for  a  long,  long  time 
Let  us  not  speak  of  her. 
The  day  is  not  yet  over.    Go  now,  you; 


BERENICE  175 

See  if  her  grief  has  not  brought  death  to  her. 
Run!    I  will  wait  until  you  come  to  me; 
We'll  know  if  she's*  alive  before  we  start. 

Curtain. 


ACT  IV. 

Berenice. 
Phenice  is  late.    How  slowly  the  time  passes ! 
The  bitter  time!    My  strength  is  going  from 

me. 
Yet  rest  seems  death  to  me.     How  late 

Phenice  is! 
It  is  ill-omened,  and  it  frightens  me. 
It  means  that  she  will  have  no  message  for 

me, 

That  cruel  Titus  has  not  heard  her  speak, 

But  flies  from  her. 

(Enter  Phenice.) 

Dear  Phenice,  have  you  seen  the  Emperor? 

What  did  he  say?    When  will  he  come? 

Phenice. 

I  saw  him,  Lady, 

Told  him  the  trouble  of  your  soul,  and  saw 

His  tears. 

176 


BERENICE  177 

Berenice. 
And  is  he  coming? 

Phenice. 

Doubt  not,  madam, 
He's  coming;  but  you  cannot  see  him  thus; 
You  are  disordered,  madam;  calm  yourself, 
And  let  me  raise  these  fallen  veils  of  lawn 
And  scattered  hairs  with  which  your  eyes  are 

hidden, 
And  marks  of  tears. 

Berenice. 

No,  leave  them,  Phenice;  he  shall  see  his 
work. 

What  use  are  these  vain  ornaments  to  me? 

If  all  my  love  and  tears  and  sighs  and  sor- 
row— 

Nay,  if  my  certain  death  can  call  him  not, 

How  shall  these  useless  helps  of  beauty  call 
him? 
,  They  do  not  call  him  now. 


178  BERENICE 

Phenice. 

Why  be  unjust? 
I  hear  a  noise — the  Emperor  is  coming. 
Let  us  go  in ;  we  must  avoid  his  courtiers, 
See  him  alone,  within. 

(They  go  off.) 
(Enter  Titus,  Paulinus  and  Company.) 

Titus. 

Go  to  the  Queen,  Paulinus.    I  will  see  her. 
Leave  me  alone  a  little  while;  now  go. 

Paulinus. 

(Going.) 
I  fear  this  seeing  the  Queen ! 

Gods,  save  his  glory  and  the  country's  honour. 

Now  for  the  Queen! 

(Exit  Paulinus.) 

Titus. 

(Alone.) 
Titus,  the  time  has  come;  what  will  you  do? 


BERENICE  179 

Have  you  prepared  farewells,  and  steeled 

your  heart 
And  braced  it  to  the  pitch  of  cruelty? 
For  in  this  bitter  struggle  now  prepared 
You  need  not  bravery,  but  barbarism. 
Now  you  will  see  her  beauty  all  in  tears; 
And  seeing  that,  can  I  fulfil  my  duty, 
And  break  the  heart  I  love,  the  heart  that 

loves  me, 
And  cast  her  off  for  ever? 
Why  should  I  break  that  heart?    Who  bids 

me?    I  do. 
Yet  why?    Has  Rome  declared  her  wishes 

tome? 
Does  the  mad  rabble  roar  around  the  palace? 
And  do  I  see  the  State  at  the  cliff's  brink? 
And  can  I  only  save  her  by  this  yielding? 
All's  quiet  here,  and  I,  too  swift,  too  swift 
To  torture  self,  perhaps  imagine  evils 
That  I  could  thrust  aside. 


180  BERENICE 

Is  there  no  other  means  but  this  to  save  it? 

Would  they  not  see  the  virtue  of  the  Queen? 

Would  they  not  presently  confess  her  Ro- 
man? 

After  such  tears  and  love  and  faithfulness 

Rome  would  be  kind  to  us. — Ah,  no!  not 
Rome! 

Hatred  of  Kings  is  stamped  in  every  soul, 

And  cannot  be  effaced  by  fear  or  love. 

Rome,  casting  out  her  Kings,  condemned 
your  Queen. 

Coward  I  am.    I  love.    Give  up  the  Empire, 

Go  to  the  wide  world's  end,  and  live  with  her; 

Make  place  for  those  more  fit  than  I  to  reign. 

Yes,  but  are  these  those  deeds  in  the  great 
style, 

That  were  to  crown  me  in  men's  memories? 

Now  I  have  reigned  eight  days,  and  till  this 
day 

I  have  done  all  for  love,  nothing  for  honour. 


BERENICE  181 

Now  I  must  do  what  honour  asks  of  me 
And  break  the  only  hnk  that  hinders  me. 

{Enter  Berenice.) 

Berenice. 
Leave  me,  I  say !  you  cannot  keep  me  back, 
I  must  speak  with  him.    So,  Lord,  you  are 

here! 
Well,  is  it  true  that  Titus  casts  me  off? 
That  we  must  part,  that  Titus  orders  it? 

Titus. 
Lady,  have  pity  on  a  wretched  Prince. 

We  must  not  here  give  way  to  tenderness; 

I  have  sufl&cient  bitterness  at  heart 

Without  your  tears  to  torture  me  still  more. 

Recall  that  heart,  which  many  times  of  old 

Showed  me  my  duty;  for  the  time  has  come; 

But  by  your  love,  look  simply  at  my  duty 

And  fortify  my  heart  against  yourself. 

And  help  me  overcome  my  love  for  you. 

Duty  demands  that  we  must  separate. 


182  BERENICE 

Berenice. 
You  tell  me  this!    I  felt  sure  that  you  loved 

me! 
My  soul  that  loved  you  only  lived  for  you. 
Were  you  then  ignorant  of  your  Roman  laws 
When  for  the  first  time  I  confessed  my  love? 
Why  did  you  not,  then,  say  "Oh,  wretched 

Queen, 
There  is  no  hope !    Why  pledge  your  love  to 

me? 
Give  not  your  heart  to  one  who  cannot  take 

it." 
But  no,  you  took  it,  but  to  fling  it  back, 
When  that  poor  heart  was  living  but  for  you. 
Full    twenty    times    they    have    conspired 

against  us: 
Then  was  the  time — why  not  have  cast  me 

then? 
There  were  a  thousand  things  against  me 

then 


BERENICE  183 

That  might  have  helped  console  me  in  my 

grief. 
I  could  have  blamed  your  Father,  all  the 

Romans, 
The  Senate  and  the  Empire,  all  the  world, 
Rather  than  this  dear  hand. 
I  should  not  then  have  had  this  cruel  blow. 
Even  when  I  hoped  to  be  most  happy  here. 
Here,  when  your  love  can  do  all  that  it  wishes 
When  Rome  is  silent  and  your  Father  dead 
And  all  the  world  is  bowing  at  your  feet — 
When  I  have  nothing  more  to  fear — then 

you— 
You  spurn  me. 

Titus. 
It  was  myself  who  thus  destroyed  myself, 
I  was  content  to  live,  to  let  myself 
Be  charmed;  my  heart  would  never  search 

the  future 
For  what  might  one  day  disunite  us  two. 


184  BERENICE 

I  willed  that  nothing  should  o'er  come  by- 
wishes. 

Examined  nothing,  hoped  the  impossible; 

Perhaps  for  death  rather  than  these  fare- 
wells. 

The  very  obstacles  increased  my  love. 

And  Empire  spoke  but  glory  had  not  spoken 

As  yet,  within  my  heart,  in  the  clear  tone 

With  which  it  stirs  the  hearts  of  Emperors. 

I  know  the  torments  that  this  parting  brings, 

I  know  too  well  I  cannot  live  without  you. 

But  this  is  not  a  question  now  of  living; 

I  have  to  reign. 

Berenice. 

Then  reign,  harsh  King,  and  be  content  with 

glory. 
I  will  not  vex  you.    No ;  I  only  waited 
Before  I  would  believe  that  those  same  lips 
After  a  thousand  oaths  of  love  for  me, 


BERENICE  185 

Would  order  me  away  for  evermore. 

I  wished  to  hear  you  say  it  in  this  place. 

Now  nothing  more.    Good-bye  for  ever,  then. 

For  ever,  Sir,  it  is  a  cruel  word 

When  one's  in  love. 

A  month  will  come,  a  year  will  come,  and 

we — 
We  shall  be  parted  by  a  world  of  seas. 
How  shall  we  sufifer  when  the  day  begins 
And  the  sun  climbs  the  sky  and  then  declines, 
And  Titus  will  not  see  his  Berenice. 
And  all  day  long  she  will  not  look  on  Titus! 
Perhaps  you  will  not  feel  those  days  so  long; 
They  may  be  long  for  me,  too  short  for  you. 

Titus. 
Lady,  I  shall  not  live  for  many  days; 
I  hope  that  presently  news  of  my  death 
Will  show  you  that  I  cannot  live  without  you, 
Will  make  you  own,  that  you  were  loved  in- 
deed. 


186  BERENICE 

Berenice. 
If  that  be  true,  why  should  we  separate? 
I  do  not  speak  of  marriage  with  you  now : 
Rome  has  condemned  me  not  to  see  you 

more: 
But  do  you  envy  me  the  air  you  breathe? 

Titus. 
You  can  do  all  things,  Lady.    Stay,  if  you 

wish; 
I'll  not  forbid  it;  but  I  feel  my  weakness; 
It  would  be  endless-  struggle,  endless  fear, 
And  endless  watching  to  restrain  my  steps 
From  turning  towards  your  beauty  all  day 

long. 
I  cannot  speak,  my  heart  forgets  itself, 
Remembering  only  that  it  loves  you  dearly. 

Berenice. 
Well,   Lord,   and  what  could  happen   if  I 
stayed? 


BERENICE  187 

Would  all  your  Romans  rise  against  me, 

Lord? 

Titus. 

Who  knows?  Suppose  they  did?  Suppose 
they  clamoured? 

I  should  be  forced  to  back  my  choice  by 
blood; 

And  if  they  did  not  speak  and  did  not  rise, 

They  would  expect  that  some  day  I  should 
pay  them. 

What  would  they  not  demand  for  their  com- 
plaisance? 

How  can  I  guard  the  laws  I  cannot  keep? 

Berenice. 
You  count  the  tears  of  Berenice  for  nothing? 

Titus. 
That  is  unjust. 

Berenice. 
Unjust?     For  unjust  laws,  that  you   can 
change, 


188  BERENICE 

You  would  condemn  yourself  to  lifelong  grief. 
You  say  Rome  has  her  rights.    Have  you  not 

yours? 
And  are  Rome's  interests  dearer  than  our 

own? 
Come,  speak! 

Titus. 
Alas,  my  Queen,  you  torture  me! 

Berenice. 
You  are  the  Emperor,  Lord,  and  yet  you 
weep. 

Titus. 
Yes,  Lady,  it  is  true.    I  weep.    I  shudder. 
When  I  accepted  here  the  Emperor's  purple, 
Rome  made  me  swear  to  maintain  all  her 

laws. 
I  must  maintain  them.    Already  many  times 
Rome  has  most   strictly   proved   her  Em- 
perors; 


BERENICE  189 

They  have  obeyed  her  orders  to  the  death 
To  their  sons'  deaths.    Rome  and  the  glory 

of  Rome 
Have  won  the  victory  in  those  Roman  hearts; 
And  I,  in  leaving  you,  do  as  they  did, 
But  think  I  pass  them  in  austerity. 

Berenice. 

All  things  seem  easy  to  your  barbarism. 
I  will  not  speak  again  of  staying  here. 
Think  you  I  would  have  wished,  ashamed, 

despised. 
To  stay  among  the  mocks  of  those  who  hate 

me? 
Do  not  expect  me  to  break  out  against  you, 
But  if  the  gods  have  pity  of  my  tears, 
And  if  your  harsh  injustice  touches  them. 
And  if  before  I  die  I,  the  sad  Queen, 
Wish  for  some  bold  avenger  of  my  death, 
I  seek  that  bold  avenger  in  your  heart — 


190  BERENICE 

My  love,  my  love  that  cannot  be  effaced, 

My  present  grief  and  my  past  happiness. 

Are  the  enemies  that  I  will  leave  you,  Lord. 

I  leave  my  vengeance  unto  them.    Good-bye. 

{Exit.) 
Paulinus. 

Lord,  she  has  gone.    Will  she  then  leave  the 

country? 

Titus. 

Paulinus,  follow  her.    I  think  she  is  dying. 

Run  to  her  help. 

Paulinus. 
My  Lord,  her  women  will  be  round  her  there, 
They'll  turn  her  thoughts.     Fear  not,  the 

worst  is  over. 
Go  on,  my  Lord,  the  victory  is  yours: 
I  know  you  could  not  hear  her  without  pity; 
I  couldn't  keep  from  pity  even  in  seeing  her — 
But  you  must  take  long  views,  and  you  must 

know 


BERENICE  191 

That  happiness  will  come  from  this  brief 

pain: 
All  the  wide  world  will  ring  with  praise  of 

you. 

Titus. 
I  hate  myself!    I  am  a  brute!    Even  Nero 
Was  not  so  cruel.    Oh,  I  cannot  bear  it! 
If  Berenice  should  die! 
Come,  let  Rome  say  what  it  may. 

Paulinus. 

What,  Lord? 

Titus. 
I  know  not  what  I  say. 
Excess  of  trouble  overwhelms  my  spirit. 

Paulinus. 
Do  not  be  troubled  for  what  Rome  will  say. 
The  news  that  she  has  gone  is  spread  abroad ; 
Rome,  which  was  murmuring,  is  triumphing, 
The  altars  are  all  smoking  in  your  honour, 


192  BERENICE 

And  in  the  streets  the  crown,  singing  your 

virtues, 
Crown  all  your  statues  with  eternal  laurel. 

Titus. 
Ah,  Rome!    Ah,  Berenice!     Unhappy  fate, 
To  be  a  lover  and  an  Emperor ! 

{Enter  Antiochus  and  Arsaces.) 

Antiochus. 
What  have  you  done,  my  Lord?  For  Berenice 
Is  perhaps  dying  in  Phenice's  arms — 
Hears  and  knows  nothing,  but  cries  out  for 

death ; 
And  you  alone,  my  Lord,  can  save  her  life. 
Lord,  why  delay?    Go,  show  yourself  to  her, 
And  speak  one  word. 

Titus. 

And  what  word  can  I  say? 
{Enter  Rutilius.) 


BERENICE  193 

RUTILIUS. 

Lord,  all  the  Tribunes,  both  the  Consuls,  and 

The  Conscript  Fathers  of  the  Roman  Senate, 

With  one  voice  in  the  State's  name  call  for 

you. 

A  great  impatient  crowd  is  with  them,  Lord; 

They  wait  your  presence  in  your  audience 

chamber. 

Titus. 

I  hear  you.    0  great  gods,  I  beg  you  save 

That  heart  so  like  to  die! 

Paulinus. 

Come,  then,  my  Lord,  we  will  attend  the 

Senate. 

Antiochus. 

Go  to  the  Queen  first. 

Paulinus. 
My  Lord,  you  cannot!    'Twere  indignity, 
It  were  an  insult  to  delay  your  coming. 
Trampling  the  majesty  of  Rome  beneath  you. 


194  BERENICE 

Titus. 
Enough,  Paulinus,  I  will  hear  the  Senate. 

(Turns  to  Antiochus.) 
Prince,  this  is  duty  not  to  be  put  by; 
Go,  see  the  Queen.    I  hope  on  my  return 
She  will  not  doubt  my  love. 

Curtain, 


ACT  V. 

Arsaces. 
Where  shall  I  find  this  all  too  faithful  Prince? 
Heaven  grant  that  at  this  moment  I  may  tell 

him 
Of  happiness  such  as  he  dare  not  hope. 
Oh,  happy  chance,  he  comes!    Sir,  the  Queen 
starts — 

Antiochus. 
She  starts? 

Arsaces. 
She  starts  this  evening. 
She  is  most  hurt  that  Titus  leaves  her  there 
So  long  in  tears.    She  is  not  angry  now, 
But  she  renounces  Rome  and  Emperor  both. 
And  would  be  gone  before  the  Romans  see 
,     her 

195 


196  BERENICE 

In  her  distress,  and  glory  in  her  flight. 
She  writes  to  Caesar. 

Antiochus. 
And  Titus? 

Arsaces. 
Titus  has  not  appeared  before  the  Queen, 
For  the  great  crowd  of  Romans  rings  him 

round, 
Shouting  the  titles  that  the  Senate  gives  him. 
Those  titles,  and  the  crowd,  and  that  ap- 
plause. 
Become  so  many  honourable  chains 
To  keep  him  from  the  Queen  and  steel  his 

heart. 
In  spite  of  all  the  sad  Queen's  sighs  and  tears, 
I  think  perhaps  he  will  not  see  her  more. 

Antiochus. 
Fortune  has  played  with  me,  and  many  times 
I  have  seen  all  my  plans  blown  by  the  wind ; 


BERENICE  197 

My  heart  scarce  hopes,  lest  it  should  anger 

Fortune. 

But  Titus  comes. 

{Enter  Titus.) 
Titus. 

Let  no  one  follow  me. 

Prince,  I  am  come  to  keep  my  promise  here — 

Come  with  a  broken  heart.    I  wish  to  see  her. 

Antiochus. 
So  dies  the  hope  that  you  had  given  me! 

{Enter  Berenice  and  Phenice.) 

Berenice. 

I  do  not  wish  to  hear.    My  mind's  made  up ; 

I  wish  to  go.    Why  show  yourself  to  me? 

Why  bring  more  bitterness  to  my  despair? 

Aren't  you  content?    I  do  not  wish  to  see 

you. 

Titus. 
Please  listen ! 

Berenice. 

The  time's  past. 


198  BERENICE 

Titus. 

Lady,  a  word! 
Berenice. 
No,  not  a  word.    You  wish  that  I  should  go; 
I  am  resolved  to  go,  and  I  shall  go. 

Titus. 

No,  stay. 

Berenice. 

Why  should  I  stay? 

To  hear  the  people  cheer  for  my  misfortune? 

Do  you  not  hear  their  cruel  joy  already? 

What  have  I  done  to  them  that  they  should 

cheer? 

What  have  I  done — save  love  yourself  too 

weU! 

Titus. 

It  is  a  senseless  crowd.    Why  listen  to  it? 

Berenice. 
There's  nothing  here  that  does  not  wound  my 
heart. 


BERENICE  199 

This  room  where  we  were  lovers,  you  and  I, 
Come,  Phenice. 

Titus. 
You  are  unjust  to  me. 

Berenice. 

You  must  go  back,  Lord,  to  the  sacred  Senate 

Which  now  applauds  you  for  your  cruelty. 

Are  you  content  with  what  they  say  and 
vote? 

And  have  you  promised  to  forget  my  mem- 
ory— 

That  will  not  expiate  your  love  for  me. 

Have  you  made  promise  that  you'll  hate  me 
always? 

Titus. 
No,  I  have  promised  nothing.    0  my  gods! 
Lady,  for  five  years  you  and  I  have  loved; 
I  never  loved  you  better  than  to-day. 
Never  so  tenderly,  never  so  dearly. 


200  BERENICE 

Berenice. 
"You  loved,"  and  yet  at  your  command  I  go. 
Do  you  find  beauty  in  my  heart's  despair? 
What  use  to  me  your  heart's  most  useless 

love? 
Show  me  less  love  for  very  pity's  sake, 
And  let  me  at  the  least  set  forth  persuaded 
That  I  am  leaving  one  who  is  not  sad 
To  see  me  go. 

(Titus  reads  a  letter.) 
That  is  a  letter  that  I  wrote  to  you ; 
Read  it,  most  cruel  one,  and  let  me  go. 

Titus. 
You  shall  not  go !    I  cannot  grant  you  leave. 

No,  for  your  going  is  a  stratagem. 

You  mean  to  kill  yourself,  and  all  I  love 

Will  be  a  bleeding  memory. 

(Berenice  jails  upon  a  chair.) 

Call  for  Antiochus.    Let  him  quickly  come. 

Lady,  when  first  I  knew  we  had  to  part, 


BERENICE  201 

I  braced  my  soul  for  great  unhappiness, 
But  did  not  once  foresee  the  tiniest  part 
Of  what  I  suffer  now. 

Some  minutes  since  I  met  assembled  Rome, 
The  Senate  spoke  to  me,  I  did  not  hear, 
I  did  not  know  if  I  were  Emperor, 
Or  even  a  Roman,  and  I  did  not  care. 
Lady,  I  might  say  this:  that  I  am  ready 
To  give  up  Rome  for  you  and  follow  you. 
Even  to  the  wide  world's  end  to  live  with  you. 
But  you  yourself  would  blush  if  I  said  that. 
You  would  not,  without  shame  behold  me  so. 
See  me  a  worthless  Emperor,  without  Empire, 
March  in  your  train,  a  spectacle  to  men. 
No,  to  escape  these  torments  of  the  soul 
There  is  a  nobler  way,  as  you  know  well, 
Which  men  too  shaken  by  misfortune  take 
When  sorrow  upon  sorrow  following  close, 
Comes  like  a  secret  order  to  surrender. 
If  I  be  forced  to  watch  your  sorrow,  lady, 


202  BERENICE 

If  I  be  forced  to  see  you  long  for  death, 
If  I  be  forced  always  to  dread  your  death, 
As  dread  I  must  unless  you  swear  to  me 
To  spare  your  life,  then  look  for  other  sorrow, 
In  this  my  state  I  can  do  anything. 
I  will  not  answer  that  my  hand,  before  you 
Put  not  a  bloody  end  to  this  oUr  parting. 

Berenice. 
Alas. 

Titus. 

No.    There  is  nothing  that  I  could  not  do. 

So,  madam,  think  that  you  control  my  life 

And  if  I  still  am  dear  to  you — 

{Enter  Antiochus.) 

Come,  Prince,  come  in ! 

I  have  sent  for  you  to  be  my  witness, 

VoT  to  judge  if  I  have  loved  untenderly. 

Antiochus. 
Lord,   you   have  honoured   me   with   your 
esteem, 


BERENICE  203 

And  I  can  tell  you  here,  Lord,  I  have!  been 

A  faithful  friend  to  you — 

A  faithful  friend  although  I  was  a  rival. 

Titus. 
My  rival! 

Antiochus. 

Yes,  it's  time  I  told  you  that. 

Lord,  I  have  always  worshipped  Berenice, 

Have  striven  to  kill  my  love,  but  could  not 

do  it. 
At  least  I  could  be  silent,  and  I  was. 
Your  change  of  heart  gave  me  some  feeble 

hope; 
But  the  Queen's  tears  have  wiped  away  that 

hope. 
She  asked  to  see  you,  and  I  called  you.  Lord, 
And  you  came  back.  You  love  her.  She  loves 

you. 
I  pray  the  gods  to  keep  their  blows  from  you, 
Or  cast  them  upon  me,  whose  life  is  yours. 


204  BERENICE. 

Berenice. 
Too  generous  Princes,  I  am  in  despair! 
Titus,  you  know  my  heart;  I  can  say  truly 
I  never  longed  for  greatness  nor  for  glory. 
I  loved — I  loved  and  wished  to  be  beloved. 
I  thought  your  love  had  come  unto  its  end. 
I  know  my  error  now,    I  know  you  love  me. 
I  am  not  worth  your  trouble,  nor  deserve 
That  marrying  me  your  Empire  should  be 

broken. 
I  think  that  for  five  years  until  to-day 
My  love  for  you  has  been  a  real  love. 
That  is  not  all.    Now,  in  this  fatal  moment, 
By  a  last  effort  I  must  crown  the  rest; 
I  shall  obey  your  orders  to  the  last. 
Good-bye,  Sir.    Reign.    I  shall  not  see  you 

more, 
Prince,  after  this  farewell,  you  must  be  sure 
I  cannot  listen  to  another's  love; 
But  live,  and  make  an  effort  like  our  own. 


BERENICE  205 

I  love  him,  he  loves  me,  and  yet  we  part. 
Go,  Sir,  far  from  me,  and  forget  your  love. 
Good-bye.    We'll  be  example  to  all  time 
Of  the  most  tender  and  unhappy  love 
That  ever  was  in  dolorous  history. 
All  is  made  ready.    They  are  waiting  for  me. 
No,  follow  not  my  steps.    Good-bye! 
For  the  last  time,  good-bye.  Lord. 

{Exit) 
Antiochus. 
Woe  is  me! 

Curtain. 


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